Record participation from Türkiye in European Mobility Week: “We can pioneer significant changes”
European Mobility Week has been inspiring people to reconsider their mobility habits in towns and cities for 20 years. Sema Gür, the organiser of the world-renowned Fancy Women Bike Ride, describes this awareness week, which is celebrated throughout Europe, as follows:
“European Mobility Week is the world's call to people who now only sit at the computer and drive cars. The world is telling us through the European Mobility Week: 'You need to get out on the streets! You need to take back the streets occupied by cars!’”
Fancy Women Bike Ride held for the first time in 2013 in Izmir to draw attention to World Car Free Day.
According to Demet Gezgin, the Coordinator of the European Union (EU) funded Izmir Sustainable Transport Urban Planning (SUMP) Project of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, people thought that transport problems could be solved by building roads, but they were wrong: “What we need is a change of mind-set because it is only if you change the mind-set that people will give up their cars and switch to cycling and walking. European Mobility Week is also an opportunity to rethink our situation.”
Melisa Kılıç, İzmir SUMP ambassador and university student, emphasises that one of the biggest causes of the climate crisis is the use of cars instead of public transport, rail systems or shared cars: "Although Izmir has a much better cycling infrastructure than other cities, there is a car craze in Türkiye. Can we live like this? I don't think so. That's why European Mobility Week is the most effective way for us to reach people in Izmir."
Onur Yıldırım, a bicycle user, says that more campaigns like the European Mobility Week should be developed and disseminated. According to Yıldırım, "public transport such as metro and tramways and increased use of bicycles can reduce urban traffic."
The theme of this year's European Mobility Week, held across Europe between 16-22 September every year, was "Discover your city", and the slogan was "Save your energy". Türkiye broke a record this year by participating in the European Mobility Week with 630 cities and towns, where 2,663 towns and cities from 41 countries participated in their activities.
Head of the EU Delegation to Türkiye Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut attended the European Mobility Week events in Izmir.
Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, Head of the EU Delegation to Türkiye, who participated in the events as part of the European Mobility Week in Izmir, İstanbul and Ankara, says: “We do not want municipalities or citizens to view the European Mobility Week as just a week-long event. Instead, we want them to see it as an inspiring, encouraging long-term companion that facilitates the sharing of all types of sustainable mobility activities they undertake throughout the year with all stakeholders, across Türkiye and Europe.
Indeed, big metropolitan cities like Ankara, Izmir, and Istanbul are our most important partners and they should lead by example and be role model for other Turkish cities. The change will start from the cities! The city managements have big role and responsibility in these issues. With their high population densities and high share of short-distance trips, there is a greater potential for cities to move towards low-carbon transport than for the transport system as a whole, through the development of walking, cycling, public transport, and the early market introduction of vehicles powered by alternative fuels. With the cities’ involvement, we can pioneer significant changes.”
Ambassador Meyer-Landrut travelled by tram and ferry in Izmir, by electric bus in Ankara, and by electric water taxi in Istanbul to draw attention to sustainable mobility. In Ankara and Istanbul, he took part in safe cycling to emphasise that cycling is a solution for first and last mile connectivity and it should take its place as a means of transport. The Turkish press showed great interest in the events in three cities.
Encouraging people, cities and companies
Since transport is the second-highest polluting sector in Europe, in line with the European Green Deal, Europe continues cooperating with all stakeholders to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Awareness campaigns are also part of this cooperation. European Mobility Week, the European Commission’s awareness-raising campaign on sustainable urban mobility, encourages people, cities, educational institutions, companies and NGOs to increase sustainable urban mobility.
This large-scale awareness campaign aims to encourage decision-makers to promote sustainable transport and urban active mobility and to orient citizens towards sustainable transport. European Mobility Week emphasises the importance of movement, reduced energy consumption, and clean and smart modes of transport for a sustainable world and a high quality of life. This inspiring week is organised in Türkiye under the national coordination of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye and with the support of the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye.
