St. Polten, of March 2011 SpiCycles in PLOIESTI city

SPICYCLES (Sustainable Planning & Innovation for Bicycles) − The project SPICYCLES aimed to promote cycling policies in 6 European cities. − In this frame, the project aimed to produce positive impacts on the references cities in terms of: - environmental performance by reducing emissions; - increased road safety and improved traffic management; - support to equity and accessibility; - benefits for health and the overall quality of life. − In Ploiesti, the actions included implementation of communication and awareness raising campaigns and special actions to build local partnerships. St. Polten, of March 2011

The urban context before SpiCycles? - Ploiesti city is a medium industrial city (almost inhabitants) with a noisy cars’ life; - Poor image of cyclists in relation to car driver status; - No “Bicycle climate” reflecting a positive attitude to cyclists from the society; - Bike-sharing concept unknown;. St. Polten, of March 2011

- No partnership between local administration and private companies regarding cycling issues; -No analyses of the citizens’ opinions and requirements related to the cycling; -No common discussions, interest and activities for cycling between the different local actors; -No involvement from the stakeholders and private investors in the problems concerning urban cycling; St. Polten, of March 2011

What did SpiCycles bring new? -The opportunity to follow and to apply the European politics related to the healthy environment and the reduction of the energy’s consumption; -The concept of bike-sharing; -The advantage of working and sharing knowledge and practices in the field of cycling, knowing the Dutch and German experience; St. Polten, of March 2011

-More communication and awareness regarding the alternative transport mode as an important issue for the urban mobility; -The benefits of a safety traffic teaching for the children from the road traffic officers; - A great occasion to work in a “team spirit” in order to meet new challenges. St. Polten, of March 2011

-The possibility to introduce and to develop the cycling infrastructure and logistic equipment in the future urban planning development projects; -The possibility of setting up the partnerships between private investors and public authorities; St. Polten, of March 2011

Barriers? -The inherent conflict between the different categories of traffic participants due to the narrow roads that are not providing sufficient space for all of them; -Lack of the coherent policy because different departments that are responsible with traffic issues had a difficult communication; -In the public transport master plan there is not a chapter destined to the cycling’s analysis yet; St. Polten, of March 2011

- The bureaucratic procedures and practices which are slowing down the information and data transfer; - Existing of the obsolete internal rules at the department’s level and their application doesn’t cover encountered issues; -The lack of the interest and the conservative mentality of the citizens that need to be changed; -Insufficient equipments for solving the traffic congestion (real information system, parking, crossings signing etc.). St. Polten, of March 2011

What are the results and impacts of the project? -Setting up and working the free bike-sharing system which has especially a promoting role; -Setting up and working the “Cycling groups” in some schools that benefit by the teaching of the roads traffic police); -Increasing the interest of young people which are the future promoters of the new way of unpolluted transport (on-line filled cycling questionnaires and a permanent monitoring and analyzing questionnaires feed-back; St. Polten, of March 2011

-A better communication process created between the different departments and authorities related to the transport issues; - Support of the Oil and Gas University and high-schools, important driver elements in the educational process of building a cycling culture and mentality; -The two public-private partnerships regarding cycling issues that didn’t exist before SpiCycles ; -Creating the premises for continue the implementation of the cycling in the daily life of the citizens. St. Polten, of March 2011

Thank you for attention! Milena Perpelea Ploiesti Municipality