Driving Change

text PAULA MANOLI

photography MADROCKS

The launch of an innovative new mobility app is the Limassol Tourism Board’s latest initiative in its efforts to drive travel – and tourism – in a more sustainable direction as part of its participation in the European CIVITAS Destinations programme.

As a thriving and popular tourist destination, Limassol ticks all the boxes with today’s discerning traveller, and is always seeking to give its visitors more through the development of its infrastructure, services and attractions, creating a cosmopolitan identity that continues to evolve and excite.

At the heart of this dynamic landscape is the Limassol Tourism Board, which keeps pace with the preferences and demands of its visitors and responds to their needs, including the latest desire for destinations that operate sustainably.

Enter CIVITAS (City Vitality and Sustainability) Destinations, a European programme that has created a network of six cities dedicated to cleaner, better transport in Europe and beyond. The network includes Limassol, which was selected following a call for proposals for a 4-year plan presenting the implementation of intelligent, sustainable and cost-effective transport solutions that would improve urban accessibility and reduce emissions and energy consumption.

Together with Rethymno, Valetta, Elba, Las Palmas and Madeira, Limassol launched the 2020 CIVITAS Destinations Project (run by the European Commission and co-financed by CIVITAS) on 1 September 2016 and has not looked back since. The forward-thinking city has propelled its own local programmes alongside the European initiatives and has no intention of slowing down.

Maria Stylianou Michaelidou, Manager of the Limassol Tourism Board, stresses the significance of the city’s participation in such projects: “It is very important for a destination such as Limassol to stay up to speed with international trends. By encouraging and enabling sustainable mobility we ensure a cleaner, friendlier environment and an upgraded tourist experience.”

LEADING APP

The latest initiative in green travel is the new ‘Limassol Mobility’ app, which is proving to be an essential and valuable tool for both locals and visitors alike, simplifying travel in the region and helping to reduce carbon emissions, as well as encouraging people to think more creatively about how they get from A to B. Aside from helping the environment, travellers reap the benefits of saving time on their journeys by choosing the most efficient route, which makes for a more pleasant experience overall, and one that Maria says is key to the success of the app.

“The truth is that we have a long way to go, but we are on the right track and have the passion required to continue improving. The ‘Limassol Mobility’ app will provide current solutions and will constantly be updated and upgraded to include new developments.”

SOME OF THE NEWER ACTIONS include a campaign to encourage theuse of electric vehicles, the additionof new bike parking stations andthe installation of street maps thatindicate the walking and cyclingtime to the area’s landmarks.

So how does the app work? Designed to be user-friendly, all you have to do is download it for free from Apple or Google and you are ready to use it when planning any journey, whether by car, bus or bike.

The app contains comprehensive information about cycling routes, bike sharing networks, EV charging stations, parking places, and the public bus service – including routes, stops, maps and landmarks. Currently an integrated trip planner is also being developed, with location search functionality to help you figure out the most efficient routes to reach your destination with an expected duration of travel. In short, the application includes all functionalities that may be needed in order to plan a sustainable journey.

A WINNING FORMULA

The app is just one of many initiatives that began even before the city’s participation in CIVITAS. Other measures include the development of cycling infrastructure, thematic walking routes and improved bus services.

Some of the newer actions launched include a campaign to encourage the use of electric vehicles, the addition of new bike parking stations and the installation of street maps that indicate the walking and cycling time to the area’s landmarks. Coming up soon is the installation of bike racks on 20 buses, allowing cyclists to use their bikes more often and eliminating the need to carry bikes by car to reach certain destinations that are difficult to cycle to directly.

As Maria explains, one such example is Curium theatre, which is a major tourist attraction and a stunning area for cycling. “With bike racks on buses, someone wishing to cycle in Curium – or other beauty spots in the region – no longer has to drive to the desired cycling destination. We believe that this will significantly reduce car journeys and emissions, while also allowing more people who don’t have access to a car to enjoy some of our defining landmarks.”

Introducing the younger generation to the concept of greener travel is also part of the programme. To that end, several school initiatives have been launched to teach students not only about alternative modes of transport, but also how to travel safely. Around 800 Limassol school students have already taken part in the Limassol Tourism Board’s safety seminars, which focus on how to walk or cycle to school safely, while also raising awareness of carpooling and the benefits of avoiding unnecessary car journeys.

Maria says these interactive seminars were enthusiastically received and will slowly but surely change the current perceptions and attitudes and replace them with greater environmental awareness. Further school programmes are planned, including cleaning campaigns in walking and cycling areas, with the participation of around 1,000 students.

As various other projects and actions come to fruition, Maria is confident that the city is well on its way to meeting its objectives of encouraging residents and visitors to leave private cars at home, and either walk, cycle or use public transport.

It is worth noting that alternative modes of transport are not just beneficial for the environment. Without a car you are more likely to enjoy the fresh air and lively scenery of the region, become more physically active, save money and energy, and enjoy touring and sightseeing on a whole new level. That alone is surely ‘fuel’ for thought, and something that will continue to set Limassol apart as a sustainable destination of choice.

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