CIVITAS placement highlights new mobility in historic cities
Antalya (Turkey) and Bruges (Belgium) have just completed a CIVITAS placement. CIVITAS placements are an opportunity for staff from different cities to vist and learn from their peers.
Last month, Antalya (Turkey) and Bruges (Belgium) participated in a CIVITAS placement. During a placement, a mobility professional working on a local challenge from one city stays for between three to five days in another city to learn from their experiences. As the emphasis is on practical knowledge exchange, CIVITAS placements are the ultimate opportunity for cities to learn from their peers.
Aynur Uluc from Antalya was placed in Bruges from 11 to 16 January. A research assistant at Süleyman Demirel University, Aynur’s research focuses on new mobility modes and their integration with historic cities which are vulnerable to damage from motorised traffic. Her master’s thesis proposed a framework for sustainable urban mobility for Antalya’s historic core, and in her PhD studies she is looking into more detail at different mobility solutions for historic cities. This is particularly relevant in Turkey, where motorisation rates have increased sharply in recent years.
“During my time in Bruges I discovered a medieval town with many new mobility options for everyday life,” says Aynur. The placement was an opportunity to fully investigate the daily mobility habits of Bruges. Aynur witnessed that most people in Bruges prefer to cycle, an activity which everyone from the youngest to the oldest can participate in. This is supported by complementary infrastructure, such as plenty of cycle parking facilities throughout the city.
Moreover, Aynur received insights on making mobility more sustainable in cities popular with tourists. Through discussions with different nearby local authorities and departments, such as mobility, spatial planning, and cultural heritage, many different perspectives on this topic were collected. Bruges’ protected status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site was also analysed, as it presents some challenges to implementing new mobility measures.
The CIVITAS Placement Programme is still open for applications. Interested cities can view the list of host cities to consider what topic would make a good basis for exchange, and fill out the application.
For more information about the CIVITAS Placement Programme, visit the programme’s page on civitas.eu or contact placement [at] civitas [dot] eu
