UPGRADE 2015, Young minds for sustainable European cities

Another team project of youth exchange in Maribor.

The search of hidden treasures of Maribor. Every “treasure” brought a group a certain amount of point. The group with the highest amount of points won and was awarded. Fun way to explore the city!

Here are the instructions:  

Treasure hunt in the city of Maribor on planet Mars starts at 15:30h! Ground control to Major Tom, ground control to Major Tom: Collect the highest number of karma points and get the award! Part ONE! 10 karma points - obligatory destination: go to Mobility Center (Mobilnostni Center) in Maribor and get yourself a bike! But first… Extra 10 karma points for making a photo of at least one SHARROW on your way to the Mobility Center. 20 karma points - Find “LUFT”, enjoy the view, remember the number of different whiskeys they serve. …jump on the bike and goooo… 10 karma points - Main railway station and count the bike stands 20 karma points - Find KOJAK and count the number of fallen hostages and rebels named “Franc”. 20 karma points - First light bulb in Slovenia only 4 years after the original T.A.Edison patent, and check what’s written on the memorial plate. 20 karma points - find Čeligijev stolp (Cheligys tower) and write down the poem on the fence. 20 obligatory karma points - Report to the Major Tom, who is drinking tea at Čajnica at 17h sharp to get further instructions. Special award will be awarded to the most creative photo about sustainable mobility!

Within the project ‘Young minds for sustainable European cities’, a youth exchange project with partners from Slovenia, Greece, Netherlands, Portugal and Bulgaria on environmental topic, first international seminar took place between 24. and 25. 10. October 2015 in Maribor, Slovenia. The so-called Advanced Planning visit, contently a coordination meeting, is considered as a success in many aspects. Not only have we all met and got to know each other a little better, we explored the city of Maribor, tried local cuisine and got on bicycles. As we were saying our goodbye and ‘See you soon in Maribor’ new project ideas were sparking.

The preparational weekend with individuals of different ages interested in urban mobility and its issues, good practices, solutions and level of awareness, produced tangible results and is an excellent foundation for future work. In less than 48 hours, heads of organizations created a project work plan as all present participants, we were more than 15, specified project goals. With the key input by professionals in the field of urban sustainable mobility during the weekend, partners are now more aware of impact of the project. We agreed already this project will with its dissemination material contribute to raising awareness level within target groups about sustainable mobility and its positive effects on environment. We left some matters open, as key players in this project are young minds, hence creation of methods and approach rely on them to be realised within this project which concludes in June 2016. Supporting and main activity, making all this possible, is the planned seven-days youth exchange to be held in Maribor in March 2016 with 35 participants of partner organisation’s members, volunteers and others interested in the topic.

The project is strongly connected to European campaigns on Urban Sustainable Mobility, namely European Mobility Week, Do the Right Mix campaign and possibly CIVITAS initiative and wishes to contribute with its results. Cutting down Europe's greenhouse gas emissions, climate change management, preservation of biodiversity, more live-able cities and planet as a whole should be of Europe’s priority. And youth approach on this global issue is essential for finding future-oriented approaches.

Looking forward and pleased to being a part of this international project, in the name of the consortium Coordinator Mariborska Kolesarska Mreža

The project is commencing its second phase: Preparation on APV

Since the European Mobility week lies already in the past, we are now starting to prepare for the APV. The so called Advanced Planning Visit is going to be essential for the success of the actual exchange in March 2016. During the APV we are going to discuss and plan the program for March together with 2 representatives from each of our partner organizations, who are coming to Maribor for a few days. Our main goal is now to take steps that the APV is going to work out as we want it to. That means first of all we have to prepare a concept for the program that want to accomplish during these days. Plus we are going to create some nice evening program, so that we can get to know each other a little better in that short period!

During the European Mobility Week (thereafter: EMW) the 5 Project partners have been in close contact and reporting frequently about the different happenings in their countries. Various stories were exchanged and new ideas were formed. At this point we want to particularly mention the unique “Teatro BUS” project which was presented in ‪Guimarães (Portugal) on the occasion of the celebrations of the ‪‎Mobility Week. Since the Upgrade Project is all about international exchange of ideas, this was already a very productive start concerning the project’s goals.

Through that first exchange of information and knowledge in the frame of the EMW, it has become more and more obvious to all of us, how important it is to involve different cultures and views in order to work out globally functioning ideas. We are very happy about the performance of our collaboration so far, which made our anticipation of the actual exchange, which will be happening in March of the following year, rise to a totally new level.

Be sure to check out The 2015 edition of EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK's Best Practice Guide

School activities in Western Bulgarian towns

While celebration of European Mobility Week (EMW) already used to be a tradition in some of the bigger Bulgarian cities, it is still deeply unpopular in smaller and less populated settlements. That's why there is not enough attention paid among local communities on benefits of walking, cycling and wider use of public transport. Bulgarian Environmental Partnership Foundation (BEPF) managed to organize and conduct educational activities and games related to sustainable mobility with school students from 5 small West Bulgarian municipalities (population between 3-18 thousand inhabitants).

More than 100 kids in age between 10 and 16 years from towns of Berkovitsa, Breznik, Chiprovtsi, Tran  and Godech took part in the events. Educational programme aimed to give knowledge to participants about advantages and disadvantages of different transport modes both in their own towns and larger cities. Impact on nature and built environment, benefits and risks for personal health were discussed. Bike competitions between participants were organized in school backyards and closely situated stadiums.

Photo:  Bulgarian Environmental Partnership Foundation (BEPF)

Students from Tran and Godech shared their opinion by filling up a survey on local traffic conditions and quality of urban environment. Children in Breznik conducted an observation on accessibility conditions in the area around the school. A few surveys on mobility behaviors were collected from local citizens. Results from surveys and observation can be used by school and municipal authorities for better understanding of challenges that students face every day on their way to school and back. Reasons for very limited bicycle use among children in daily trips will become more visible and clear.

Presentation of '‪‎Teatro‬ ‪BUS‬', a new concept that combines a walk through the streets and a play in a stage with movement. This unique project is presented in ‪#‎Guimarães‬ on the occasion of the celebrations of the ‪#‎Mobility‬ Week.

Source: European Mobility Week FB

Kalimera from Greece!! Podilatiki ApoDrasi Pierias, the urban cyclicts’ group in Katerini, Greece, takes part (unofficially unfortunately, since our Municipality did not want to celebrate it…) in the European Mobility Week for one more year, organizing a series of activities. Due to the national elections and the overall situation in Greece, we decided to annul the planned activities for the Car Free Day and, instead, give emphasis on the cycling education sector, believing that cycling education should be spread to raise and cultivate environmental awareness in children and adolescents.

Source: European Mobility Week FB