No.9 INTERVIEW. The European Mobility Week contributes in Letovice to permanent traffic calming TOPIC OF THE MONTH: SUSTAINABLE AND SAFE TRANSPORT

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1 ZPRAVODAJ č.9 ZDRAVÁ MĚSTA, OBCE A REGIONY ČR SEPTEMBER 2008 No.9 INTERVIEW An interview with Bohuslav Kuda, deputy Mayor of the Healthy City of Letovice and politician of the Healthy City Project and Local Agenda 21 The European Mobility Week contributes in Letovice to permanent traffic calming The European Mobility Week Campaign (EMW) has been running in Letovice regularly every year and it is joined by all age categories of citizens. How do you assess this year of the campaign? The European Mobility Week Campaign was, just like previous years, prepared with partners of the Healthy City of Letovice schools, school facilities, non-profit and interest organisations from as soon as the end of last year when the activities to campaigns announced by the Healthy Cities of the Czech Republic are being planned. Methodical guidance of campaign preparation from the part of the CZ Ministry of Environment is a significant help, as it is possible to find inspiration in practice of others at the meetings of local coordinators. Even this year there was at least one activity prepared for each day of EMW. There were seminars with CZ Police at the basic school, events organised by association of the disabled under the title Stay Mobile, a mountain bike obstacle competition in a closed area of the city square and other events. This year we have implemented permanent measures such as bus transport to a remote local part of the city, we have commenced a reconstruction of local bridge in order to improve safety and access to the western part of the city. The most frequented routes to the basic school received new road marking. Letovice succeeded this year in the competition Journeys through the Cities focused on traffic calming. You won the second place for construction of ring intersection. Do you prepare any other traffic calming measures in the city? One of the main objectives is to widen the road I/43 from Letovice to the edge of South-Moravian Region in order to improve the safety of both motor and non-motor transport in the critical section. The city is greatly interested in realisation of the project and so it contributed by a change in the local plan. In the past, questionnaire surveys ascertaining the interest of citizens in construction of the ring intersection proved successful and pupils of local basic school participated during EMW Campaign in the selection of locations for safe crossings over the road I/43. These surveys contributed to the realisation of ring intersection that was awarded in the Journeys through the Cities competition. We expect that similar suggestions will also arise in connection with the project Safe Route to School Calming of traffic directly in the city centre should be contributed to by the ongoing changes of Masarykovo Square. We also prepare realisation of cycleway in a part of route to the dam. The city has been realising a number of activities within the framework of the Healthy City Project. In fact, Letovice belong among the smaller cities and these, as is well known, face a more difficult situation, for instance due to personnel or financial capacity. Can you recommend some time-tested procedures of yours? In the first place, I consider sharing of best practice very important. In Letovice we have been trying to utilise information provided by the Healthy Cities of the Czech Republic in a form of best practice examples as well as advices of other association members. This way the city could utilise the findings in the area of sustainable energy during realisation of solar hot water heating in the house of seniors or during the ongoing project for reduction school buildings energetic demands. It is likewise important that as high as possible a number of city inhabitants was familiarised with development objectives of a given area in order to apply their needs and opinions during their creation. For instance, we have created so called Community Plan of Social Services for the Letovicko Micro-region. Development plans of the region and of the City of Letovice were based on the experience with creation of Community Plan of Health and Quality of Life of the City of Letovice, created in collaboration with HCCZ association. However, this would not be possible without active officials and politicians. TOPIC OF THE MONTH: SUSTAINABLE AND SAFE TRANSPORT The quality of air in cities and municipalities is in particular negatively influenced by car traffic. Every reduction or calming of motorised 1

2 transport improves the quality of air and results in improvement of conditions for quality of life of local inhabitants. Individual passenger transport produces more than one half of the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions produced by transport sector as such. The Czech Republic still belongs among the worst EU states from the point of view of traffic accidents. More than 1,200 people died due to consequences of road traffic accidents last year, more than 30,000 people were injured in road accidents. The European Mobility Week Campaign ( ) concluded by the Car-Free Day (22. 9.), running for the seventh year, contribute to road traffic safety and environment-friendliness of traffic. The campaign among others promotes environment-friendlier means of transport such as cycling or walking and emphasises the importance of public mass transport. The topic of this year s campaign is Clean Air for All, which indicates the emphasis on quality of air for inhabitants of cities and municipalities. The campaign also points at connections between transport and climate protection. The Common Topic of sustainable and safe transport, announced by the Governmental Council for Sustainable Development, also continues this year. The September Bulletin issue brings pieces from events held on the occasion of European Mobility Week in the Healthy Cities, Municipalities and Regions. 38 HCCZ members joined the campaign this year: Region Vysočina, Bolatice, Boskovice, Brno, Česká Lípa, Frýdek-Místek, Hlinsko, Hlučín, Hodonín, Chrudim, Jihlava, Jilemnice, Karlovy Vary, Karviná, Kopřivnice, Kroměříž, Letovice, Litoměřice, Moravská Třebová, Pelhřimov, Poděbrady, Prostějov, Přeštice, Příbram, Říčany, Strakonice, Štětí, Tábor, Telč, Třebíč, Třeboň, Uherské Hradiště, Uherský Brod, Ústí nad Labem, Varnsdorf, Velké Meziříčí, Velký Beranov, Vsetín. HUNDREDS OF CITIES ACROSS THE WORLD WANT FRESH AIR FOR THEIR INHABITANTS The European Mobility Week and Car-Free Day campaigns are realised in the Czech Republic under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment. This year s campaigns were joined by 90 Czech cities and municipalities, which is the fifth highest number in the whole Europe. The Healthy Regions of Vysočina and Zlín officially supported the campaign in their areas. The traditional activities, such as public city transport one day for free, educational traffic programmes for children or cycling rides were extended in several cities during this year s campaign by continuous measurement of air quality. Children and adults also had an opportunity to take part in international activities, such as competition Let s Protect the Earth Climate or Be a Changer. The traditional traffic-safety campaigns of Biking Only with Helmet On or Safe Journey to School as usual also took place. The European Mobility Week introduced inspiring places Ceremonial awards of winners of the seventh year of Journeys through the Cities traffic calming competition, organised by the Partnership Foundation, took place in the course of the EMW Campaign. The ceremonial event took place in the Healthy City of Šternberk that won the competition last year with its well done realisation of city centre regeneration. This year s category of City was won by Krásná Lípa a Hranice, the category of Municipality by Louňovice. The second place in the category City was taken by the Healthy City of Letovice, the third place by the Healthy City of Hlinsko. More information about the Journeys through the Cities can be found on the website Air polluted by harmful emissions from traffic negatively influences the health of inhabitants in a number of world cities. The European Mobility Week Campaign this year for the seventh time offered transport alternatives including permanent trafficcalming measures. Energy savings in transport and reduction of CO 2 emissions become ever increasingly actual subjects. European cities enforce climate protection The standards for air pollution are exceeded in the majority of European cities. As soon as in 2000, the Energie-Cités Association initiated through the European Commission an international campaign for support of environment-friendly ways of transport under the title of European Mobility Week (EMW). The campaign takes place every year from 16. to 22. September and more than 1800 cities and municipalities from Europe and further 200 cities from other regions registered at the international website to participate. The campaign under the motto Clean Air for All is focused on the representatives of local self-administrations and recommends to them that they enforce measures leading to reduction of harmful traffic emissions and convince citizens to use environment-friendly ways of transport that contribute to climate protection owing to lower CO 2 emissions. The campaign and its this year s subject have been supported by the European Commissioner for the Environment, Stavros Dimas. The practice in European cities has proven the contribution of measures such as so called low emission zones or building of park-and-ride lots at the outskirts of large cities. The awards ceremony of the Journeys through the Cities Competition took place at the castle of the Healthy City of Šternberk that won the competition last year. Within the framework of IMAGINE initiative, a unique exhibition Places that Inspire Us was to be seen in the Czech Republic in September and October. The exhibition uses the examples of sixteen world cities to show innovative solutions in the field of transport and energetics that reduce the consumption of fossil resources and save our health and money. Owing to active collaboration between Energie-Cités Association and the Healthy Cities of the Czech Republic and with financial support of Knauf Insulation ČR it was managed to translate this exhibition into Czech language and stage the exhibition on various occasions across the Czech Republic. The exhibition gradually travels across the Healthy Cities and appears at specialised conferences. 2

3 Sustainable transport and energy as Common topics Last year, the Government Council for Sustainable Development announced the Common Topic of sustainable and safe transport that includes a number traffic-education campaigns and activities. Let s remind the guidebook with ten examples of best practice from areas such as Transport and the Environment or Transport Infrastructure and Enterprises, published last year by HCCZ with support of the Sate Environmental Fund. For the year 2008 there has been announced the Common Topic Sustainable Energy Resources and Savings that continues in the last year subject in particular owing to connection with climate protection. Even for this year s autumn the HCCZ prepares the release of publication with inspiring examples of best practice from Healthy Cities, Municipalities and Regions. Besides climate protection, the publication will in particular focus on energy savings, renewable resources or systems of management and education in the area of sustainable energy. In the course of panel discussion held in the Healthy City of Litoměřice, the citizens had a unique opportunity to present their suggestions and observations for improvement of traffic situation in the city and its surroundings. BEST PRACTICE The Healthy Cities and Municipalities enforce safe and environment-friendly transport The European Mobility Week campaign (EMW) in the Healthy Cities, Municipalities and Regions has brought a number of activities for support of environment-friendly ways of transport. Children actively participated in traffic education programmes and also participated in events focused on quality of air in the cities and municipalities. The campaign is also a suitable opportunity for promotion of public transport services. As a part of rich programme prepared for the inhabitants of the Healthy City of Brno within the framework of EMW Campaign, there was a public talk on development of public city transport, connected with introduction of modernised vehicle fleet. A new project titled CIVITAS is also being launched. In the following 4 years the project will enable realisation of projects focused on the support of quality of public administration services, on improvement of citizens awareness about public transport services and also on the reduction of energy consumed by the operation of public transport vehicles. In the Healthy City of Vsetín, the public transport was on the carpet during a discussion meeting of hauliers representatives with representatives of the city and surrounding municipalities. The meeting took place in the presence of the public and the subject of preparation of timetables that should bring advantages to highest number of citizens possible, were discussed in the first place. A public discussion about transport problems also took place in the Healthy City of Litoměřice, where people were familiarised with successful activities and currently prepared city objectives. In the course of the Car Free Day held in the T. G. Masaryk Square of the Healthy City of Tábor, there was introduced a natural gas-propelled bus and visitors of the event had an opportunity to familiarise with its operation. Wheelchair accessible bus, in which those interested could take ride, was to be seen during Car Free Day in the Healthy City of Uherské Hradiště. Children monitor the quality of air in the Healthy Cities and Municipalities Members of the children s municipal council in the Healthy City of Strakonice counted cars at frequented intersections and access communications to the city. During the EMW Campaign, the children in the Healthy City of Bolatice monitored the quality of air, measured the acidity of rain and familiarised with various options of how to contribute to improvement of the environment. In the Healthy City of Valašské Meziříčí there was a quiz presented through the Velkomeziříčsko Weekly under the title A City Well-Known and Unknown for pupils of basic schools and general public on the subject of Clean Air for All. There was also a fine arts competition on the same subject. A questionnaire survey on citizens satisfaction with transport and mobility has been prepared in the Healthy City of Česká Lípa by High Technical School students. The Project Streets of Our City took place in the Healthy City of Boskovice and its objective was to develop the children s perceptiveness and sensitive relationship to the environment they live in. The project was joined by pupils of grade of basic schools, when each class described one street. The result at the end of the day was a common work that described individual city streets through the eyes of basic school students. Environment-friendly ways of transport are also good for health At the occasion of the EMW, the Healthy City of Ústí nad Labem organised a Ride through the Track of Labe on bikes and skates for children of basic schools. Participants of the ride obtained information about safe biking and about suitable marking of cyclists and pedestrians. Cycle-ride through the city and surroundings, with a start on Zámecké Square took place in the Healthy City of Frýdek- Místek. The Healthy City of Přeštice organised a common ride of city representatives and citizens to city surroundings under the motto City for Cyclists. A cycling trip to the city surroundings, accompanied by a common ride on Regionova train also took place in the Healthy City of Kroměříž. A train specially despatched within the EMW framework set off on 20. September from Zlín to Rožnov 3

4 courtyard of Healthy City of Moravská Třebová. All children that arrived to the event on foot, on a bike or scooter, obtained a sweet reward. The Healthy City of Prostějov prepared a side event to the EMW Campaign in a form of run for the handicapped youth and for children of first school that took place in the T. G. Masaryk Square. A Run through the Native Heath of Emil Zátopek took place in the Healthy City of Kopřivnice for the support of non-motorized movement in the streets. Traffic education events teach children how to move in the streets safely In the Healthy City of Jihlava there was a cycling trip under the title Across the Cycleways of Jihlava. pod Radhoštěm and back and in addition to free ride the passengers had an opportunity to visit selected historic sights along the way. The association of Friends of Clean City in the Healthy City of Říčany prepared a big bicycle ride for adults, parents, small and big children. The route led from Masarykovo Square to swimming pool Jureček. A festive bicycle ride through the city also took place on the occasion of Car Free Day in the Healthy City of Příbram. The Healthy City of Varnsdorf prepared an event titled Officers Ride or You Will See Officer on a Bike. Civil servants and other volunteers met on Friday of 19. September in front of municipal office building. Those employees of municipal office of the Healthy City of Telč who arrived to the office on this day by public transport or on a bike, were officially welcomed at work. The longest non-motorised travel to work was also appreciated. A Cycling Day took place in the Healthy City of Karlovy Vary. Children with parents set off for a ride across the nature trail from Stará Role to Nová Role and stopped at the Kozodoj Eco-farm where a number of entertainment events were prepared. In the Healthy City of Jihlava there was a race for basic school children under the title Biker of Jihlava, a cycling trip Across the Cycle Routes of Jihlava also started from grammar school building. Scooter and roller-skates races All About Wheels took place in the Healthy City of Karviná in front of Silesian University OPF. An entertainment afternoon titled The Silk Route or Along the Tracks of Marco Polo with examples of traditional ways of transport from other countries was prepared on 20. September in the castle Children painted their images of environment-friendly travelling in the course of event The Silk Route or Along the Tracks of Marco Polo, held in the Healthy City of Moravská Třebová. Children learnt to identify traffic signs and received small gifts at BESIP information stands in the Healthy City of Jilemnice. The second phase of Going Biking? Don t forget your Helmet! Campaign, focused on use of protective cycling helmets, culminated in the traffic playground of the Healthy City of Chrudim on 17. September. The Can You See Me? Campaign, focused on use of reflective elements, was taking place during the whole EMW in Chrudim. A competition for best-illuminated bicycle that took place in the Healthy City of Hlučín under the title Firefly of Hlučín, was connected with visibility in the streets. Behaviour in road traffic was also trained by children of the Healthy City of Pelhřimov during event Today in a Traffic Playground, Tomorrow on the Road. The Healthy City of Poděbrady prepared a cycling trip for parents with children, named Safely across the City and Green Track with several quiz stops dedicated to the subject of safe cycling. Children of kindergarten in the Healthy Municipality of Velký Beranov selected safe route to school, as they identified potential collision points, practised safe movement on the pavement, on the road and across pedestrian crossings. During the EMW Campaign realised in the Masarykovo Square of the Healthy City of Jilemnice, there were prepared BESIP information stands, where children had an opportunity to learn traffic signs and many other skills. The Healthy City of Třebíč in collaboration with BESIP organised an event for children titled The Youth and Traffic Regulations. Groups of students monitored observance of traffic regulations in selected locations across the city. Police patrols checked young cyclists in the Healthy City of Hodonín. Police officers in particular advised cyclists of obligatory equipment of bicycles and of wearing cycling helmets. Bicycles and cyclists were also checked by basic school pupils together with policemen in the Healthy City of Štětí, where the event titled An Apple or Lemon, focused on adult drivers, also took place. There was a traffic-safety event held in the Healthy City of Letovice under the title Driving with a Smile. Basic school pupils in collaboration with CZ Police and Municipal Police evaluated drivers and cyclists riding through the city in the morning hours. Participants of the main programme of EMW Campaign in the Healthy City of Uherský Brod had an opportunity to try collision situations in traffic, see demonstrations of first 4

5 aid and also crash simulator. The traffic-prevention project Safe in the South Bohemia with Crash Simulator traditionally visited the Healthy City of Třeboň in August and met with great interest from the part of children as well as experienced drivers. We wish all Healthy Cities, Municipalities and Regions many good ideas during preparation of events dedicated to the European Mobility Week Campaign in the next year. We also wish that the number of events visitors grows and that there is less motorised traffic in the centres of cities and municipalities. Examples of best practice from other areas can be found in Database BestPractice All website references are generally in Czech language. pf 2009 Healthy Cities of the Czech Republic wish you a lot of energy in the year CONTACTS Healty Cities CZ, Srobárova 48, Prague 10, Czech Republic T: E: info@nszm.cz W: Petr Svec, National Coordinator of the Healthy Cities Project (The photographs were provided by the archives of HCCZ Office and member cities, municipalities and regions) This issue was supported by the Czech Environmental Fund. 5