Rome receives European recognition for its cycling response to COVID-19

Author: Richard Adams

Rome's impressive mobility response to COVID-19 has been recognised at the European level. At the recent Urban Mobility Days 2020, the Italian capital was revealed as a runner-up in the “CIVITAS Resilience” category of the CIVITAS Awards. The prize shone the spotlight on cities who introduced bold and transformational measures in response to the pandemic.

The Italian capital set itself apart through its support of physical distancing included promotion of walking and cycling, enabling safe public transport, and its plan for 150km of transitory cycling routes (read more). In total, €3.2 million has been set aside for Rome’s plan, with 20km of the lanes currently in place.

The use of the word ‘transitory’ is important: they are neither temporary nor pop-ups. “Temporary implies that it takes a second to remove them,” explains Francesco Iacorossi, Project Manager at Rome’s public transport operator, Roma Servizi per la Mobilità. Instead, the lanes serve as an initial step on Rome’s journey to becoming a bona fide cycling city.

Future improvements being considered for the lanes include segregating some of them; currently the lanes are painted on to roads. Such measures would substantially boost the safety and security of cyclists. The city’s commitment to doing so can already be seen in its recently launched campaign on safe cycling and walking.

Handshake played a key role in the development of the plan. As Francesco Iacorossi comments, “we have absorbed the best that European cities could offer.”

Watch a video demonstrating some of Rome’s new infrastructure here.

The quotations in this article are taken from a recent article on Rome's cycling plans from EUROCITIES - it is also well worth a read!

This project has received funding from the European Union‘s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme under grant agreement no 769177.

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