Description
Today’s city environment is affected by high levels of air pollution, noise, primacy of individual transportation but also often due to the passivity of the society itself. Current solutions center on technical approaches (construction of urban rings, sound barriers etc.), but omit prevention. The aim of this project is to invest actively and engage local communities in challenging the current environmental issues, the ones that directly affect day to day life, by: (a) Providing communities all over the country with complex tools and know-how to communicate and seek change (b) Engaging local communities in supporting bike commuting and local activities. As a local community project, the goal to success it to actually include all important actors, which is vital – that be the local authorities, politicians, NGOs or active individuals. Might seem as pure leisure activity, but in reality, organizing these events for over a year reveals the deficiencies and needs in administration, mutual ties, local economy etc.
Summary of project results
In order to improve the quality of life and the environment, it is necessary to be aware of the value of public space and the need and possibilities of its transformation. The project entitled Support of Sustainable Development through Community Cooperation contributes to this improvement on two levels: 1) The support of the execution of activities and transformation of public space, which is mainly linked to activities within the A Different City Experience project, raises awareness about the possibilities to change our nearest environment (neighbourhood) and offers tools for realizing and getting involved in non-profit activities leading to a livelier public space and its positive transformation. 2) The creation of a platform for activating citizens interested in urban cycling enables more effective information sharing between those who are interested and active members in this area. As part of the support of activities in public space, tools were developed that simplify the implementation of such activities (A handbook for users of public space and other booklets), also a platform was designed where it is possible to share information about this type of activities (A Normal City Experience), further, six activation meetings with interested people took place and intense communication with authorities was established and proposals were made which will make it easier to organise such activities in the future. In 2015, over 20,000 people, 53 NGOs and other organisations were involved in the realization of A Different City Experience. The main tool for activation of citizens interested in urban cycling is the Cyclists to Themselves website with over 1,000 registered users. The website has an easy to navigate and functional layout enabling to submit specific suggestions (at the moment over 1,200 specific suggestions have been submitted), notify of a place which is problematic from the transportation point of view (other users may add their votes), discuss topics with others and, last but not least, create one’s own local group which will actively contribute to better conditions for urban cycling. The project saw fifteen events leading to improved cycle-paths which serve as an inspiration for further activities. The increasing number of registered users of the Cyclists to Themselves website as well as the growing interest in activities in public space – both from citizens and local authorities – prove the real impact of the project.
Summary of bilateral results