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“Soft mobility is the future of cities”

The rise of environmental considerations at both citizen and political levels coupled with the recent and ongoing Covid crisis have had a profound impact on urban transport systems. Numerous cities have promoted soft mobility as the future of urban transport.


The United Nations have declared June 3 the “World Bike Day”. The Geneva Cities Hub partnering with the Swiss Mission to the United Nations, the United Nations Road Safety Fund, “Pro Velo” Geneva, the Geneva Environment Network and Urbz, co-organised a Garden Party at the Villa Rigot some days later, June 30, 2021, to celebrate urban soft mobility and the softening of Covid measures in Geneva. The event constituted a welcome opportunity to (re)connect with colleagues and friends from International and Local Geneva, including diplomats, urbanists, and United Nations staff.

As Mr Sami Kanaan, Vice-Mayor of Geneva and President of the Geneva Cities Hub mentioned to the invitees: “When I arrived in Geneva some 30 years ago, there were not much cycling paths in the town. We have managed together to change this situation, and we shall continue”.

“Soft mobility is the future of cities”, echoed Mr Jean-Pierre Reymond, 2050Today global coordinator, Chargé de mission, Permanent Mission of Switzerland. In partnership with the United Nations, 2050Today brings together a community of international Geneva institutions determined to ensure a fast, continuous, and measurable reduction of their carbon emissions.

In relation to soft mobility in Geneva, there are plenty of initiatives such as bike to work and others worthy to be known and followed, concluded Ms Diana Rizzolio, Coordinator of the Geneva Environment Network (GEN), a cooperative partnership of over 75 environment and sustainable development organizations based in Geneva, hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme.

 

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