With the participation of more than 20,000 citizens, the “Athens Car-Free” event concluded on Sunday evening, 21/9, transforming Athinas Street into a vibrant space of culture, entertainment and creativity for 24 hours.
The Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, stated: ““Athens Car-Free” highlighted in the best way the importance of sustainable mobility and proved that Athens can be transformed into a city with fewer cars and more space for people. The image of thousands of citizens – young and old – enjoying public space freely, without noise and exhaust fumes, fills us with optimism. It is the best motivation to continue with actions and interventions to build a safe, accessible, environmentally friendly and truly sustainable city.”
For his part, the CEO of Development Athens, Ioannis Georgizas, pointed out: “Within 24 hours, everyone had the opportunity to experience in practice how the city can function with actions that unite culture, sports and innovation. From yoga and outdoor fitness sessions to comic workshops and the cycling route to the neighborhoods of Athens, the experience showed that sustainable transportation can become part of our everyday lives.”
20+ actions: yoga, fitness, comics, cycling, cinema & concert by Panos Vlachos
The European Mobility Week in Athens concluded with a grand celebration. From 8pm on Saturday 20/9 to 8pm on Sunday 21/9, young and old enjoyed the –car-free– Athinas Street, from the height of Evripidou to Ermou (Monastiraki Square).
Musical and theatrical performances, workshops for children and families, outdoor sports activities, midnight screenings, interactive games and radio music selections from well-known DJs in the city, flooded the historic street.
For the first time in “Athens Without a Car”, residents and visitors had the opportunity to do yoga and fitness under the Acropolis, to attend comic workshops, while a special place in the program was the cycling route starting from Athinas Street and heading towards Patisia, Kypseli and Sepolia, following the traces of the under-developed Bicycle Network of the Municipality of Athens.
The celebration culminated with a concert by actor and songwriter Panos Vlachos, who with his songs and improvisations thrilled the thousands of spectators who had filled the space in front of the “Athens Without a Car” stage.
The open event “Athens Without a Car” was held in the context of the World Car-Free Day, which is celebrated on September 22 and was organized for the second consecutive year by the Festival of the Municipality of Athens, through Development Athens.
The Municipality of Athens will continue to invest in initiatives that make the city more humane, greener and friendlier for everyone.
The actions are implemented within the framework of the Project “Actions to promote, strengthen and promote tourism in the Municipality of Athens” / Subproject 1, which is part of the “Attica 2021-2027” Program, OPS 6018475 and is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.
