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Sustainable mobility during World Car Free Day

12. 10. 2023 Mobility

International cooperation between three integrated LIFE projects

Countries in the Central European region face similar problems with air pollution, therefore the international exchange of experience is the key to the successful implementation of integrated LIFE projects (IP) aimed at improving air quality.

A joint photo of LIFE project employees
Source: LIFE Populair

Coordinating recipients of LIFE IP Populair (Slovakia) and HungAIRy (Hungary) have already organized their first joint event in December 2022 in Bratislava with the aim of discussing the goals, challenges The next opportunity was a trilateral workshop initiated by LIFE IP Populair and held in Piešťany on and activities of the projects, as well as developing joint outreach activities.

May 17-19, 2023. In addition to the organizers, the HungAIRy and Malopolska projects participated in the event. During the discussions, all parties emphasized the importance of further cooperation.

LIFE IP HungAIRy launched a campaign during the summer of 2023 to raise awareness of the support of cycling. The campaign consisted of a competition in which citizens were invited to create interesting shapes on the map using a bicycle and a GPS navigation system or to go around one of the Hungarian lakes Balaton, Velencei, Tisa or Fertő. These routes were also documented using a GPS navigation system. The final activity of the campaign was a great opportunity for the Hungarian and Slovak sides to meet.

The competition was promoted on social networks, with both projects sharing relevant content on their respective platforms.

The final activity of the campaign was organized on the occasion of World Car Free Day 2023 in Ostrihom, Hungary, and Štúrovo, Slovakia. Both cities are connected by the Márie Valérie Bridge, they are twin cities that use the same system of shared bicycles, which provides an ideal place for a joint Hungarian-Slovak event.

The municipality of Ostrihom organized its own event for kindergarten and elementary school children focused on exercise under the guidance of a fitness trainer on Széchenyi Square in front of the town hall. This was complemented by the outreach activities of LIFE IP HungAIRy. In the stands, children could learn about cycling, composting and energy efficiency in a playful way. Colleagues from LIFE IP North-HU-Trans were also invited to the event, who carried out similar awareness-raising activities. The program was completed by a competition organized by the Esztergo Küllőszaggatók Cycling Association, where children could race on scooters or bicycles right on Széchenyi Square.

In the meantime, LIFE IP Populair welcomed young schoolchildren and kindergarteners with educational games at its stand on Náměstí slobody in front of the City Hall. Educational activities were prepared for the children, such as knowledge quizzes, folding paper propellers, creating badges with the message of sustainable mobility and good air quality, and a survey.

At the end of the program, the representatives of individual LIFE IP projects visited each other using shared Mária Valéria BIKE bicycles, which are available on both sides of the Danube. At the same time, they assured each other that they will continue such meaningful cross-border cooperation. In the near future, they have another joint workshop planned, which this time will be prepared by the HungAIRy project in Hungary.

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