Earlier this week, the winners of the EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK’s sustainable urban mobility awards were announced live by Matthew Baldwin, Deputy Director-General of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Transport and Mobility, at a hybrid ceremony in Brussels; ICLEI Members Valongo (Portugal) and Tampere (Finland), were among the victors.

Each year, EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK – the European Commission’s flagship awareness-raising campaign on sustainable urban mobility – bestows awards in four categories recognising remarkable activities conducted during the previous campaign year. Two of these awards showcase smaller and larger municipalities that successfully promoted sustainable urban mobility during the week of 16-22 September; an Award for Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning (SUMP Award) rewards excellence in sustainable urban mobility planning; and the EU Urban Road Safety Award celebrates outstanding road safety measures. The 2021 theme for all awards was ‘Safe and Healthy with Sustainable Mobility’.

Valongo was the 2021 winner of the EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK award for smaller municipalities. This ICLEI Member prepared numerous innovative sustainable mobility actions and activities that focused on involving local people and organisations, especially schools. Their outstanding campaign participation rate reflected the success of their plans, with people taking part in surveys, fitness classes, as well as a comedic mobile theatrical performance of ‘Eco Cops’ performed from a pedal-powered eco-car in the city centre. Valongo also captured the jury’s attention by putting in place new, permanent infrastructure related to an extensive variety of transport modes – including initiatives centred on walking, cycling, public transport, road safety, accessibility and cleaner vehicles. These were all designed using holistic, long-term approaches.

Meanwhile, Tampere snatched the 10th SUMP Award in recognition of its multidisciplinary approach to sustainable urban mobility planning, which empowers people to make healthier mobility choices that are active, safe and environmentally-responsible. Their ambitious plan includes impact assessments on the effect of mobility campaigns on the local population, as well as focuses on low-carbon mobility, road safety, vulnerable groups, smart mobility solutions, physical and mental well-being, accessibility and low pollution levels. Together with its educational unit, the mobility unit of the City of Tampere is already testing various pilot actions – like taking active school trips by bicycle, on foot or by scooter, zebra crossing campaigns, and pilots that highlight the fundamental role of mobility in the creation of quality urban spaces.

Kassel (Germany) walked away with the EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK Award 2021 for larger municipalities. Rethymno (Greece) won the EU Urban Road Safety Award.

For more information about EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK, visit the website here.