It is time to ditch the cars, hit the road on foot, bikes and skateboards and let citizens reclaim the streets. That is what an upcoming event in a charming Nicosia neighbourhood is proposing as it organises a day of activities as part of the European Mobility Week.
The Car Free Day on Saturday in Ayioi Omologites is an initiative organised by a group of local organisations – Council for the Promotion of Cycling, Nicosia Municipality and OPU (Organisation for Positive Urbanism) – with the aim to empty the neighbourhood’s narrow streets from vehicles for a day and fill them with life instead.
From 10am until 10pm, the event will encourage people to explore the neighbourhood through a variety of fun and inclusive activities for all ages, go around on two wheels, make art, play games and enjoy live music and food. The day’s motto? ‘Laou laou’, a common Greek-Cypriot phrase for doing things at a slow pace and not rushing which aligns with the event’s mission to encourage people to take it slow and also explore other ways of getting around, even if at a more leisurely pace.
Part of the day’s activities will include street performances from local musicians, ball games, learning how to cycle and ride scooters in the city with confidence, screenings and workshops on how neighbourhoods can be more people-friendly spaces and bunting-making with plastic bags to decorate the streets and many more. Artists will also paint Next Bikes live and the best design will be selected to be printed on Next Bikes to circulate in Nicosia and raise awareness of the local cycling initiative.
Also happening on Saturday will be a historical neighbourhood walk with academic and longstanding local resident Charis Pattichis and guided bike rides that will take participants through the linear park cutting through central Nicosia and ending at Kaimakli where the Pame Kaimakli festival will be on. An eventful day awaits then this weekend in the quaint Nicosia neighbourhood, with fun free things to do for all.
Commenting on the event and its mission, the organisers say: “Agioi Omologites is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Nicosia with a proud and vibrant community. This is the perfect opportunity to come together and think about how we want to share and shape our public space for future generations, in Agioi Omologites, as well as every neighbourhood.
“Join us on foot, by bike, skates or scooter – we are organising rides with several pick-up points so you can come along in a group. And if you’re joining us from a bit further, there will be peripheral parking lots for you to drop off your car and enjoy our neighbourhood with less noise, less fumes and more space for us all.’ Better still, try the new electric bus bringing people to Agioi Omologites on the day (for free). Details of all routes and drop-off points, as well as the access plan for local businesses and residents will be released soon.
“Part of European Mobility Week,” they conclude, “the aim of this car-free Saturday is to get people to try more ways of getting around the city, other than the car and see how sharing our public space in this way can make our neighbourhoods more comfortable, more liveable.”
Laou Laou – Car Free Day
Urban event with music, art, bike rides and community activities. Part of the European Mobility Week. Co-organised by Council for the Promotion of Cycling, Nicosia Municipality and OPU Collective. September 21. Agioi Omologites, Nicosia. 10am-11pm. Free
