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Description
‘The City in motion’ is a watchdog project aimed at investigating the way in which the principles and postulates of the Transport Policy of the City of Łódź are implemented by persons and institutions managing transport in the city. As part of the project, we are monitoring the law on the functioning of public transport in the City of Łódź. We are preparing a monitoring report with conclusions and recommendations. We educate the city officials on the principles of good governance and transparency. As part of communication activities a public debate on transport is initiated and the materials developed within the project, including the monitoring report, will be publicized. The effect of the project will be to deepen the knowledge of the residents on the legal documents regulating public transport in Łódź. The project will also make it possible to introduce improvements to the way transport is managed in the city. Our main target group are Łódź City Hall officials, councillors, local activists, residents, and journalists interested in the topic of urban transport. Indirect beneficiaries are those who read our publications: ‘Civic Affairs Weekly’ and ‘Civic Activity’. We are implementing the project in partnership with two organisations: Federation of the Greens – Krakow Group and Icelandic Environmental Association (Landvernd).
Summary of project results
The "City in Motion" project, implemented by the Institute of Civil Affairs, was born out of the need to respond to the growing transport problems in Łódź, where public transport was losing passengers to cars, leading to increasing traffic jams and reducing green areas. Its goal was to find and implement available, effective solutions to improve urban mobility, which do not require costly investments, but are based on existing infrastructure and technology.
As part of the project, we cooperated with experts and social activists, sharing the acquired knowledge via electronic media and the newspaper "Aktacyjne Obywatelska". A "Guard Report on Łódź''s public transport" was also created, preceded by monitoring of Łódź''s transport policy, and was the basis for a debate on public transport in the city. The conclusions of the report and the debate focused on the need to introduce a "green wave" for trams, which could significantly shorten journey times and increase the efficiency of public transport. The project implementation also included training for local officials, aimed at introducing the concept of better organization of public transport. Additionally, a study visit to Reykjavík was organized to draw inspiration from the experience of a city that has undergone a transformation from the dominance of car transport to the development of sustainable urban mobility. The result of the above-mentioned activities and the knowledge gained was the petition "Sign for a better city!", containing demands regarding public transport, expansion of bicycle infrastructure and protection of urban greenery.
The "City in Motion" project contributed to raising public awareness of the possibilities of improving the functioning of the city through better organization of public transport and the promotion of sustainable mobility. The project''s achievements indicate its importance not only for Łódź, but also as a model for other cities aiming to improve the quality of life of their residents through intelligent management of transport and urban space. The project leaves behind a model of participatory approach to urban planning, emphasizing the role of dialogue between residents and authorities and flexibility in adapting innovative solutions to local conditions.
Summary of bilateral results
The project has strengthened cooperation with the Icelandic organization Landvernd, which has resulted in a beneficial exchange of knowledge and experience. Further cooperation is planned, which will support both parties in further development and implementation of new projects.