Kick-off meeting in Ljubljana 2008© ELAN Project
3rd project meeting in Zagreb 2009© ELAN Project
Mobilising citizens for vital cities
Duration 09/2008 – 10/2012
Website http://www.civitas-initiative.org/index.php?id=70&proj_id=10
Coordinator City of Ljubljana, Zdenka Šimonovic
The starting point for CIVITAS-ELAN is to “put citizens first“ in the dual sense of
Responding to citizens’ needs, CIVITAS-ELAN has identified headline objectives for each CIVITAS policy field:
Mobilising citizens, creating vital cities, ensuring health and access for all by: | |
Alternative fuels & clean energy |
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Collective |
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Demand |
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Influencing |
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Safe & secure |
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Innovative |
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Freight |
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Transport |
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One of the lessons the ELAN cities have learnt through their involvement in previous CIVITAS projects, is that challenges to the implementation of innovative urban transport solutions are not always of a technical nature. Instead, the main obstacles tend to be behavioural, changing implementation conditions or institutional issues. That is why CIVITAS-ELAN adopts a process-oriented approach and accentuates risk management, including contingency plans and early warning systems for project risks.
Furthermore, the project partners are well aware of the crucial importance of a citizen-centred approach. CIVITAS-ELAN takes the view that if decision-makers are serious about considering citizens’ needs and engaging them in the implementation of solutions, much better approaches to consultation and broad dialogue are necessary than what has been practiced in Europe to date. ELAN therefore experiments with inclusive governance at all stages from project planning and implementation, to monitoring and evaluation. In many cases, citizens are encouraged to contribute their own ideas and thereby directly influence mobility planning decisions.
The focus on citizen participation has been incorporated into the design of the 67 activities under ELAN. This entails dedicated participation and consultation processes and prioritises the needs and expectations of citizens, difficult to achieve or contradictory as they sometimes may appear to transport practitioners. Various non-governmental, citizen-driven organisations are full partners in CIVITAS-ELAN and are in charge of carrying out concrete measures. They provide direct links between the CIVITAS community and those working at the local grassroots level. Aside from encouraging involvement, the CIVITAS-ELAN cities want to pro-actively convince citizens that clean mobility solutions are in their interest. The partners want to show how, despite a lack of funds, overdue investments and maintenance will contribute to economic development and help build a fair and inclusive society.
ELAN aims to increase the modal share of walking and cycling, support innovative freight delivery solutions, implement innovative demand management, and increase the use of cleaner and energy-efficient vehicles. The project will enhance overall road safety and reduce air pollution. CIVITAS-ELAN will enhance the cities’ perception as pioneers of advanced mobility concepts that offer a high quality of life. This in turn will attract knowledge workers and enterprises.
In addition to the implementation of concrete clean and sustainable urban transport solutions, CIVITAS-ELAN aims to mobilise people in physical, political and societal terms. Responding to citizens’ demands constitutes better governance and will improve the quality of public transport. Yet, the ELAN partners are convinced that putting citizens first will make a long lasting change. Transferring ownership of policies to citizens will not only substantially reduce the political risk of failure but most importantly winning people’s minds and hearts will initiate a lasting new mentality towards sustainable mobility.
As a policy-driven project led by impact and process evaluation, the ELAN cities will significantly contribute to major national, EU and global policy processes. They will motivate cities throughout Europe to follow their lead. CIVITAS-ELAN brings together politicians and practitioners from various cities, countries and professional backgrounds. It fosters exchange and advances Europe’s knowledge economy. Furthermore, CIVITAS-ELAN addresses global challenges such as climate change and security of energy supply. It contributes to reduce dependence on oil imports and helps to create to a cleaner and more liveable environment.
Within the ELAN project, Rupprecht Consult is responsible for the Project Management and is supporting the Project Coordinator.
Marcel Braun
+49 221 6060 55 20
m.braun@rupprecht-consult.eu
Rethinking everyday mobility - Results and lessons learned from the CIVITAS ELAN project (pdf)
Rethinking everyday mobility - Results and lessons learned from the CIVITAS ELAN project (epub)
Several videos on CIVITAS ELAN measures are available from: <link http: www.civitas.eu elan_videos.html _blank>
www.civitas.eu/elan_videos.html
(in local languages only; some of the videos have English subtitles)