Hall of fame
Since 2003, the European Commission has awarded cities that have participated outstandingly in European Mobility Week. Learn more about previous winning cities below.
European Mobility Week 2011: Moving in the right direction
Winner: Bologna (Italy)
The Italian city of Bologna was judged by an independent panel of mobility experts to have done the best job in promoting clean alternatives to using cars and involving citizens in activities to support sustainable urban mobility during European Mobility Week 2011. The runners-up were Larnaka in Cyprus and the Croatian capital Zagreb. The award was handed to the winning city by Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik and Vice-President Siim Kallas European Commissioner for Transport at a ceremony in the Brussels Musical Instrument Museum on 5 March 2012.
Vice-President Siim Kallas, responsible for Transport, said: "While responding to the challenge to make our cities cleaner and safer, the 2011 Transport White Paper highlights the need for a new approach to urban mobility. The winning cities have a lot to offer in this respect. By sharing experience on alternative mobility, European cities can implement more attractive and reliable options, thus making a positive impact on our quality of life."
Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik also praised the cities, saying: "With cities and their citizens increasingly suffering from congestion and pollution, there has never been a better time to switch from private cars to other means of transport. Bologna, Larnaka and Zagreb have found creative ways to permanently make their transport infrastructure more sustainable. I hope they will inspire other cities to do the same."
To view the video made for Bologna, click here.
Finalists
Larnaka (Cyprus)
To view the video made for Larnaka, click here.
Zagreb (Croatia)
To view the video made for Zagreb, click here.
European Mobility Week 2010: Travel Smarter, Live Better
Winner: Almada, Portugal
The Portuguese city of Almada was judged by an independent panel of mobility experts to have done the most to promote alternatives to the car, and to highlight the positive impact of other means of transport on public health and the environment during European Mobility Week 2010. Almada promoted sustainable mobility through dozens of permanent measures. To commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Week, the municipality – together with the local Energy Agency – organised an impressive week of activities dedicated to sustainable transport and health.
This culminated in a major event on 18 September – Mobility Festival Day – offering street markets, demonstrations of electrical vehicles, bicycle fairs, concerts, sport activities, dance and street performances, bike sprints, workshops, films, exhibitions and street art demonstrations. Almada also improved the road infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists and created several bicycle parking places and charging stations for bikes and electric vehicles. For Car Free Day, Almada converted the historic and commercial centre of Cacilhas into a pedestrian zone.
To view the video made for Almada, click here.
Finalists:
Murcia (Spain)
To view the video made for Murcia, click here.
Riga (Latvia)
To view the video made for Riga, click here.
European Mobility Week 2009: Improving City Climates
Winner: Gävle (Sweden)
The city of Gävle was awarded the Mobility Week Award 2009 by the European Commissioner for the Environment Janez Potočnik for its outstanding achievements during European Mobility Week 2009. The city took an ambitious approach to promoting sustainable urban mobility, complementing more traditional activities with communication via social media. Its activities included workplace seminars promoting sustainable travel; free chocolate for commuters at the central station and the ‘Gästrikeloppet Cycle Race 2009’ on Car Free Day in which nearly 150 people participated, including the famous Swedish adventurer Fredrik Sträng.
To exploit the growing popularity of social media platforms, Gävle had its very own blogger, 20-year old Ingrid Bergström Nilsson, who travelled around the county on public transport and blogged about her adventures. In addition, the city engaged high school media students to produce a Mobility Week video diary which was utilised as a promotional tool. Gävle also made a strong commitment to sustainable mobility by introducing dedicated parking spaces for electric cars (with charging facilities), an automated PT ticket machine and installed new bike racks at bus stops to encourage active travel.
To view the video made for Gävle, click here.
Finalists:
León (Spain)
To view the video made for León, click here.
Ivanić-Grad (Croatia)
To view the video made for Ivanić-Grad, click here.
European Mobility Week 2008: Clean Air for All
Winner: Budapest (Hungary)
The city of Budapest received the European Mobility Week Award in 2009 for its outstanding achievements. The city and districts of Budapest – dedicated participants since 2001 – developed a whole range of events and activities to promote sustainable urban transport, with major contributions from local artists and organisations, including two consecutive car-free days, a ‘Clever Commuting Race’ for VIPs, an open-air exhibition of clean and energy-efficient vehicles, a conference on air quality and noise mapping and a ‘Pedestrianised Areas Day’.
The Hungarian capital also introduced and promoted several transport permanent measures, such as expanding the downtown pedestrian area, increasing parking fees in the city centre, improving metro and tram infrastructure and services and opening new bicycle lanes and ’park and ride’ facilities.
To view the video made for Budapest, click here.
Finalists:
Almada (Portugal)
To view the video made for Almada, click here.
Zagreb (Croatia)
To view the video made for Zagreb, click here.
European Mobility Week 2007: Streets for People
Winner: Koprivnica (Croatia)
The city of Koprivnica has participated in European Mobility Week since 2002. It was awarded the European Mobility Week Award 2008 in recognition of the major commitment it made towards achieving sustainable mobility during European Mobility Week 2007.
The city launched various diverse projects to support modal shift. For example, Koprivnica introduced a three year programme ‘Streets for People’ (2007-2009) that aimed to make the city 100 percent accessible for all, reallocated 1.5 km of roads in the city centre to non-motorised traffic, promoted walking and public transport vehicles running on bio-diesel. The city also aimed to engage national and regional networks in more ambitious projects towards sustainable urban traffic.
Finalists:
Arad (Romania)
Frankfurt (Germany)
European Mobility Week 2006: Climate Change
Winner: León (Spain)
León was judged as the city which made the best contribution to European Mobility Week 2006. The city particularly impressed the jury with its ability to cover a wide range of important topics dedicated to sustainable mobility and climate change during a single week. Each day of European Mobility Week in León was dedicated to a different topic and many exhibitions and awareness-raising events took place, with children as one of the main target groups. León also introduced several permanent measures to facilitate sustainable mobility, including an information centre on renewable energy, a cycle route linking the university campus to other parts of the city, an online information service on urban transport and a new access ramp for disabled people.
Finalists:
Bologna (Italy)
Budapest (Hungary)
European Mobility Week 2005: Clever Commuting
Winner: Copenhagen (Denmark)
The city of Copenhagen was rewarded with the European Mobility Week Award for its participation in European Mobility Week 2005. Copenhagen capitalised on the increased visibility of urban mobility during the Week to test 15 traffic experiments in different city neighbourhoods, including the elaboration of a new traffic plan for the Mimergade area, with a view to making the district quieter and safer, and measures to increase safety around school zones.
The majority of experiments were deemed successful and were well received by citizens. The results of these tests provided the basis for the city to take informed decisions on whether to make the measures permanent. During the Week, Copenhagen also promoted the benefits of car-sharing, made the city centre car-free for three days in a row, and organised activities such as guided cycling tours and courses, various public debates on sustainable traffic, as well as games for children and street theatre plays.
Finalists:
Budapest (Hungary)
Koprivnica (Croatia)
European Mobility Week 2004: Safe Streets for Children
Winner: Nantes (France)
European Mobility Week 2003: Accessibility
Winner: Ljubljana (Slovenia)
Ljubljana's local authorities launched several permanent measures in line with European Mobility Week 2003 including installing ramps for wheelchair users in the passenger centre of the local public transport operator, increasing the number of parking places for people with disabilities and organising a round table, in close cooperation with the Slovenian National Council of Disabled People, about bus and bus stop accessibility and the attitude of drivers towards disabled users. Ljubljana Public Transport (LPP) has also confirmed its commitment to continue its efforts in favour of disability-friendly local buses, taking into account the specific needs of disabled users (access for wheelchair users, information in alternative formats for visually impaired people and awareness training for the drivers).
Finalists:
Almada (Portugal)
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Spain)
European Mobility Week 2002: Public Transport, Cycling and Living Streets/Greenways
Ferrara (Italy): for the most comprehensive action plan regarding thematic events, individual activities and involvement of citizens.
Geneva (Switzerland): for the most innovative permanent measure implemented on the occasion of the European Mobility Week.
Lund (Sweden): for the best communication strategy to promote the European Mobility Week towards the citizens.
Krakow (Poland): for their commitment and involvement in implementing the first European Mobility Week in their local authority, the jury of experts proposed for a special mention.
