ECF warmly welcomes CIVINET Greece-Cyprus to the Cities & Regions for Cyclists network. The network brings together local and regional administrations actively working to promote cycling as a mode of transport and leisure.
CIVINET Greece-Cyprus is the Greek-speaking national network of CIVITAS, a flagship programme of the EU for promoting sustainable mobility. The overall aim of the CIVITAS initiative is to achieve the ambitious mobility and transport goals of the European Commission as part of the European Green Deal.
There are ten CIVINET networks of cities and institutions across the continent, clustered by language and regions. These ten groups not only engage at the European level, but also work as ambassadors on a local level to support local authorities and organisations interested in sustainable urban mobility. The clustering according to languages helps to overcome contextual barriers. CIVINETs work independently but also cooperate with each other to share learning and experiences on transport policy, legislation and funding.
The network’s main roles are raising awareness, capacity building, legal advising, providing funding opportunities and support to local authorities and promoting the Greek-speaking cities particularities and achievements regarding sustainable mobility on the national and the European level.
The range of CIVINET Greece-Cyprus activities is wide, as they actively engage with and support their members participating in EU and national funded projects. The network typically takes over tasks like project management; technical support (e.g. SUMPs), communication, co-creation and capacity building activities; and capitalisation. Moreover, on a European level, the network participates in programmes such as Interreg MED and Horizon Europe (e.g. INCIRCLE, URBAN TRANSPORTS) and organises attractive events and conferences like the 1st CIVINET Forum, the Mediterranean Mobility Forum and the INCIRCLE Circular Tourism 3-day event on Aegina island.
On the local level, CIVINET Greece-Cyprus supports and organises raising awareness events, such as the recent bicycle demo organised by ECF Member “Hellenic Urban Cycling Federation” to advocate for a national cycling strategy. The network also supports cities in the organisation of activities for the European Mobility Week.
Civinet: First Cycling demonstration in the abandoned airport of Hellinikon in 2008,
organised be the CIVINET Greece-Cyprus founder.
Despite being a relatively young network founded in 2018, CIVINET Greece-Cyprus has already achieved many successes for the cycling community, such as:
- Proposing to the Green Fund of the Ministry of Environment and Energy to launch a SUMP funding programme (€ 9.5 million for 162 municipalities).
- Initiating the Greek Urban Street Redesign Manual for the Greek Ministry of Economy and Development in 2019.
- Organising the 1st CIVINET Forum in 2021, which had more than 150 stakeholders involved, 220 participants on-site and more than 500 online. Dedicated sessions on active transport and roundtables involving national and regional cycling stakeholders’ representatives were on the program.
- Drafting a new practitioner briefing for CIVITAS and ELTIS regarding the Sustainable Island Mobility Plans (SIMP), focusing on the Greek islands which are top cycling-tourism destinations.
Civinet: CIVINET’s cargo bike transformation
Besides these bigger achievements, the network has also completed smaller activities, like transforming a simple cargo bike into an e-cargo bike for use as an exhibition stand.
Last but not least, CIVINET Greece-Cyprus is aiming to further develop the potential of its members which are located near or on the EuroVelo Network routes 8 – Mediterranean Route, 11 – East Europe Route and 13 – Iron Curtain Trail. These cities are Larissa, Veria, Kozani, Kavala, Agios Dimitrios, Nea Smyrni, Vari Voula Vouliagmeni and Vyronas. A very interesting discussion of how the Greek islands could participate in this great initiative is also something that this network is bringing on our table!
For more information on ECF’s CRC network and how to join, visit our Cities & Regions for Cyclists page.
