Citizens´ ideas boost Valencia biking on two wheels

Valencia, May 23rd, 2016.- In a festive and family atmosphere, the mini Climathon Valencia about bicycle topic to promote its use among citizens, took place in Las Naves Valencia last Saturday 21^st May in the Festival VESOS framework.

This participatory initiative, promoted by Climate-KIC Spain in Valencia, gathered suggestions and ideas from visitors to the Festival throughout social media and workshops organized by its team.

There were all kind of suggestions, such proposals to complete small stretch bike roads or to become the city center in a place only for pedestrians and bikes. We also mention that the cycle lane led to the debate on coexistence between cyclists with skaters and skateboarders. More and more kids are using the skateboard as a usual transport vehicle to move around the city using the cycle lane and get into competition for the same space with cyclists.

In general, the majority opinion of the participants about the use of bicycles as a primary mode of transport, is the lack of security and fear that causes them to ride with motorized traffic, unaccustomed to consider bicycles. So one of the bike lanes most demanded during the day, was the ring surrounding the city center as well as the lack of availability of bicycle parking to access to leisure and shopping center in Valencia.

Other ideas, such as to save one day a week the city center for mobility bike, or that public administration provides incentives to companies to encourage their employees to use the two-wheeled vehicle. This ideas and suggestions will be set out to the local politicians.

Everyone agrees that Valencia, due to the flat topography, climate, urban design has no problem reinventing itself and being a Spanish pioneer in the use of the bicycle, as other European cities do, especially the Dutch ones, main references for Valencia.

This event has been very useful for the organizers. Besides gathering ideas and suggestions to improve mobility on two wheels in Valencia, it has worked as a prelude to the City of Valencia participation the in the World Climathon of cities that will be held on 28^th October. The world Climathon Climate-KIC is a global 24-hour event that takes place simultaneously in major cities worldwide.

In 2015, 19 major cities around the world, including Boston, Copenhagen, London, Rio de Janeiro, Washington, or New Delhi among others, attended 2015 June 18^th, the first Climathon challenge with more than 2,6 million people worldwide involved to act on climate and provide solutions and ideas. The winners of the challenges of the participating cities were able to show their solutions during the last climate summit in Paris. Each city is launching its own challenge or problematic on local climate change, reflecting what most affects their lives in it. These challenges include urban planning, infrastructure, housing and removing water / wastewater, use of satellite data, etc. Participants can come with a pre-existing idea and work with a team to develop solutions for 24 hours, or can develop an idea throughout the day.

After 24 hours of intense exciting collaboration giving local issues imaginative solutions, will undergo a selection by a jury of important local personalities.

In 2016 edition, the cities interested in participating in this global big event to be involved in participatory workshops and social media, have a deadline on July 1^st to submit an application.

In Spain, there are some shows of interest for participating such Murcia, Valencia and Castellon, but now the Director of Climate-KIC Spain, is releasing this initiative by some cities in northern Spain to collect candidates.

For more info to participate in the global Climathon, contact Marta Esteve (marta.esteve@climate-kic.org)