Mobility is the ability to move people and goods. It depends on the available travel modes. Ever since the 1970s, car travel has dominated, which brings negative consequences both for us and for the environment in which we live. This year's European Mobility Week took place under the slogan "Mix and move". This year, too, the Municipality of Ilirska Bistrica organized activities with which they intended to invite citizens to change their travel habits.

On September 9, the Municipality of Ilirska Bistrica opened the exhibition ”In the past we can find inspiration for a better tomorrow: the development of mobility over time”, where  Aneja Roze, the author of the exhibition, gave an overview of the development of mobility starting from the australopithecines, who were the first to walk on two legs, up to the present day, when due to the excessive density of motorized traffic, we strive for more walking, more cycling, greater use of public passenger transport and car sharing.

Part of the exhibition was also a presentation of the activities that the Municipality of Ilirska Bistrica does for promoting sustainable mobility. One of the important factors is the involvement in Interreg's SABRINA project. The partners of this project strive for the safety of the cycling infrastructure because they believe that the safer the cycling infrastructure is, the more people will cycle.

However, since the local population must also be included in the process of developing sustainable mobility, they have been invited to give their opinions regarding improvements to sustainable mobility in Ilirska Bistrica. High school students were especially addressed to this. They emphasized in particular the establishment of bicycle connections throughout the town of Ilirska Bistrica, the establishment of more functional public passenger transport between the town and the surrounding area, and also the establishment of pedestrian zones.

On Friday, September 16, 2022, the event “Active through the old town on the square in Ilirska Bistrica” has been organized. The square, which usually serves as a parking lot and a road, turned into a lively city center for half the day. Citizens met, went for coffee in nearby bars and stopped by the stands, as such as stands to raise awareness and promote sustainable mobility. Citizens could fill out surveys on sustainable mobility, take worksheets with a hand-held car cost calculator, step count records, benefits of cycling and information on public passenger transport. The Interreg's SABRINA and D-CARE projects have been presented. Citizens also had the opportunity to test drive e-bikes, which are available for rent at Ilirska Bistrica TIC, and they could refresh themselves with healthy snacks from local tourist farms. The event was also attended by pre-school children and schoolchildren, who took a guided walk through the old town center and saw the shoe collection and the exhibition on the development of mobility over time.

Sunday (September 18) was also lively in Ilirska Bistrica and Prem, when together with TIC, the Municipality Ilirska Bistrica organized running, hiking and cycling along the Kette path from Ilirska Bistrica to Prem. Before leaving, the participants of the event could see the exhibition on the development of mobility, and then they went along a nine-kilometer path to the birthplace of the greatest poet of the Municipality of Ilirska Bystrica, where they could see the permanent exhibition I will not give up: the life of Dragotin Kette in Kette's memorial room and also Prem’s castle. Members of the Brkini Fruit Growers Association opened a fruit exhibition and prepared a tasting. All hikers could take free public transportation to the starting point.

Despite the fact that the European Mobility Week ended on September 22 Ilirska Bistrica has not yet finished promoting sustainable mobility in the city. On the website of the Municipality of Ilirska Bistrica articles about sustainable mobility, the history of mobility and a healthy lifestyle continues to be published. Soon, benches along the city ring road will be mounted, which local residents will use for recreation and for walking to errands in the city.

An article by Aneja Rože, Municipality of Ilirska Bistrica, Sabrina Project Partner

Photos:  Tjaša Kaluža and Aneja Rože (Municipality of Ilirska Bistrica), Kristina Šlosar (TIC Ilirska Bistrica)