European Mobility Week 2024 was Held with the Participation of 140 Municipalities from Cities and Districts in Türkiye

Under the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) Türkiye Project which is implemented under the Sectoral Operational Programme for Transport (USOP) as part of the Türkiye-EU financial cooperation managed by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, events were held with the participation of 140 Provincial and District Municipalities in Türkiye.

Dozens of municipalities in Türkiye organized events focused on sustainable urban mobility during the week, highlighting eco-friendly transportation methods such as walking, cycling, and public transport. The aim was to increase the use of these methods by citizens. To extend the reach of these events, live broadcasts were made throughout the week via the SKUP Türkiye Instagram account.

During European Mobility Week, influencer communication was strategically used to reach a wider audience and raise awareness. Influencer posts were particularly effective in engaging younger audiences, increasing interest and participation in European Mobility Week. Cycling tours, Car-Free Day, and other events were promoted through influencers, achieving extensive interaction on social media. The influencers we collaborated with during the week included Rüştü Onur Atilla, Çiler Geçici, Fatih Topçu, and Nevra Öner.

On Monday, September 16, 2024, the first day of EMW, live connections were made with seven cities, and the opening events were featured. The metropolitan municipalities of Istanbul, Kocaeli, Ankara, Gaziantep, Eskişehir, Denizli, and Düzce Municipality participated in live broadcast connections during their field activities between 10:00 and 12:00.

On Tuesday, September 17, the National Opening Ceremony was held in İzmir, in collaboration with İzmir Metropolitan Municipality. The "Bike to University (B2U)" event was also launched in İzmir. Students gathered at the Mavişehir İZBAN Station and rode in a bicycle convoy to İzmir Kâtip Çelebi University. The National Opening Speech and an awards ceremony were held there, followed by a screening of the film "Why We Cycle," emphasizing the importance of positioning bicycles as a mode of transportation.

On Wednesday, September 18, Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality hosted a live broadcast of the "Walk for Yourself, Walk for Your City" event, which encouraged people to engage more in active mobility through walking and cycling. Following this, Denizli Metropolitan Municipality joined the live broadcast from their "Traffic Education Park," which was designed as a bicycle training area for children.

On Thursday, September 19, the "Bike to University (B2U)" project, piloted by the metropolitan municipalities of Kocaeli and Istanbul, was featured in the live broadcast.

On Friday, September 20, various events were organized to encourage transportation personnel and the public to commute by bicycle, including nature and beachside bike tours and bicycle repair workshops. Fethiye Municipality was featured in a live broadcast, with Mayor Mr. Alim Karaca sharing his thoughts.

On Saturday, September 21, the metropolitan municipalities of Antalya, Bursa, and Uşak participated in live broadcasts. Antalya Metropolitan Municipality presented its micro-mobility-themed event, which included introducing a Portable Battery System Station and Light Electric Vehicles to municipal staff. Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mr. Mustafa Bozbey participated in the live broadcast, discussing the events that had taken place throughout the week to promote sustainable urban mobility in Bursa. Uşak Municipality joined the live broadcast from their Mobility Parade, held on İsmet Paşa Street, which featured a bike and walking convoy and attracted significant attention as one of the most popular mobility parades of the week.

The "Bike to University (B2U)" project, initiated by SUMP Türkiye Volunteers, was launched during European Mobility Week under the leadership of the NGO Enverçevko and in cooperation with municipalities and universities.

Throughout European Mobility Week, children and youth actively participated in various events. Denizli Metropolitan Municipality, in particular, focused on events for children, adults, and cycling enthusiasts. These activities aimed to raise awareness of sustainable transportation. Activities in educational parks for children encouraged the use of public transport and bicycles, fostering a long-term culture of eco-friendly mobility.

Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality took a significant step towards making streets more pedestrian and child-friendly with the inauguration of the Street Transformation Project in front of Levent Kırca-Oya Başar Primary and Secondary School.

Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality organized children's festivals, workshops, and games to raise awareness of creating an environmentally friendly and sustainable future for children. The municipality also held walking and cycling events to promote more active mobility. Ankara Metropolitan Municipality focused on bicycle riding training, targeting children to position bicycles as a means of transportation in their mindset.

Various conferences, panels, and training programs were organized throughout European Mobility Week to enrich the content of the events and provide participants with comprehensive information. Expert speakers participated in panels addressing the importance of micromobility, the promotion of sustainable urban mobility, increasing the use of bicycles and public transport, and themes related to sustainable environmental awareness and urban mobility.