European Mobility Week: Zero-emission mobility for all

93 towns and cities in Germany show how fairer mobility works (16-22 September)

Straße mit niedrigen Fachwerkhäusern und einem Zebrastreifen, der von einer Frau mit Blindenstock, einem Rollstuhlfahrer und zwei weiteren Fußgängerinnen überquert wird.Click to enlarge
The winning photo contribution of the 2019 EMW contest, from Stendal ("crosswalk")
Source: Susan Taeger / Landkreis Stendal

Zero-emission mobility should be possible for all. However, the current German transportation system penalises far too many population groups who, for example, suffer from a lack of accessibility or live on busy roads. During European Mobility Week from September 16-22, 93 towns and cities in Germany will show how and 2680 municipalities worldwide will be demonstrating what can be done to ensure that local citizens can travel in an environmentally and climate-friendly and socially just manner. Dirk Messner, President of the German Environment Agency (UBA) said, "Only if everybody can be equally mobile in a sustainable manner will a local turnaround in transport be successful. I therefore very much welcome the fact that despite the coronavirus pandemic, local authorities are using European Mobility Week to approach the topic with many different campaigns and initiatives, thereby helping in some way to reduce the existing injustices in mobility".
No. 42/2020

Despite the difficult conditions, 93 towns and cities in Germany will be taking part in European Mobility Week in 2020. Together with citizens, they have developed varied action programmes that can also be carried out successfully under stricter pandemic-related conditions: In Dortmund, people are reporting on their experiences in switching to more climate-friendly means of transport such as the bicycle or public transport. Dresden is organising an online web seminar on climate justice, and in Würzburg there is a podcast on Mobility Week entitled "On the road through Würzburg", in which the Lord Mayor is also given the floor. In the community of Steinbergkirche in Schleswig-Holstein, there is a test of accessibility by affected persons. In some places, people with physical disabilities are still unable to use green public transport, for example if stairs have to be climbed, announcements are difficult to understand or important markings are missing.

For the first time, the German capital Berlin is also participating in European Mobility Week and using 25 temporary play streets to show how important they can be for residents and children as leisure spaces and play areas.

Further information:

European Mobility Week (EMW) is a European campaign which gives local authorities from all over Europe a chance to raise their residents’ awareness of the topic of sustainable mobility. Measures will be established in the week of 16-22 September and beyond which will lastingly make local transport more climate and environmentally friendly. Campaigns will be launched in more than 2000 towns and cities across Europe. UBA has been coordinator of EMW since 2016.

Umweltbundesamt Hauptsitz

Wörlitzer Platz 1
06844 Dessau-Roßlau
Germany

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 Europäische Mobilitätswoche