Skopje, 16 September 2021 (MIA) – Skopje on Thursday joined the European Mobility Week, which this year focuses on health issues under the theme ‘Safe and Healthy with Sustainable Mobility.’ The agenda is filled with quality content related to the promotion of walking, cycling and using public transport as sustainable forms of urban mobility. Mayor of Skopje Petre Shilegov told Thursday’s press conference that over 2,700 cities from over 50 countries in Europe and the world are joining this year’s European Mobility Week. “This year’s campaign, organized under the theme ‘Safe and Healthy with Sustainable Mobility’, aims to honor the management of the Covid-19 pandemic and cast a different light on the possibilities that came out of this unprecedented health crisis. Cities throughout the world have established creative, resilient responses to the pandemic, which is why the European Mobility Week this year celebrates the resilience of the cities and their achievements as they try to overcome the crisis as painlessly as possible. Multiple online workshops for elementary and highschool students will be held to promote measures in achieving sustainable urban mobility. Events include activities to promote the development of the network of cycling and walking trails in the city, which increases by around 14 km a year, thus the cycling network in our city now exceeds 110 km,” Shilegov said. He adds that the City of Skopje has committed to the construction of so-called connectors that connect the main cycling trails in Skopje. “All trails are constructed in accordance with standards which stipulate fused curbs, going around bus stops, proper horizontal and vertical signaling and protection from columns. This year we’re working on a new cycling trail along Vidoe Smilevski Bato Blvd., continuing the track on Alexander the Great Blvd., while Ruzveltova, Hristo Tatarchev and Mitropolit Teodosij Gologanov are getting new bike lanes. Bike lanes are also to be constructed on the new part of Vasko Karangeleski street, ASNOM Blvd. through the bridge to Keramidnica, Nikola Karev Blvd. and the Momin Potok interchange. Over the past four years, Skopje has 12,000 new bikes and 600 new scooters more, thanks to the annual subsidies provided by the City of Skopje,” Shilegov said. He added that the administration is also committed to the development of the cycling network in Skopje because it’s one of the ways to motivate as many people as possible to use bikes as a mode of transport, which largely increases the sustainability of urban mobility in Skopje. Shilegov called on all citizens to use bikes and public transport as much as possible, walk more and drive less. The Mayor of Skopje said that all measures taken and changing the people’s habits will directly contribute not only to the reduction of traffic and maintaining personal health, but also to a cleaner environment in the city. dk/nn