(22 September 2015) Today, the Deputy Minister of Environment and Physical Planning Stevo Temelkovski, the Mayor of the City of Skopje Koce Trajanovski and the Head of the Cooperation Department in the EU Delegation in the Republic of Macedonia Martin Klauke took part in the grand bicycle defile ridden through the streets of Skopje on the occasion of the international Car Free day and the closing event of the European Mobility Week organized in the City Park.
Several thousand participants, students, exercisers and bicycling supporters have had opportunity today to ride the road through the streets of Skopje in a length of 10 kilometers – from the Gate of Macedonia to the roundabout in Vlae. The defile ended up at the stage Shkolka in the City Park where participants attended the entertainment program. By way of lottery, 20 bicycles have been awarded.
– I am pleased to announce that the number of participating cities from Macedonia this year is a record-breaking. Today, 15 cities in Macedonia, 1700 cities in Europe in 42 countries celebrate the Car Free day, pointed out Deputy Minister Temelkovski in his official address.
Furtheron, he said that we should be aware in the course of all 365 days of the year that cars should be used in a responsible way, that we should make the right choice of the mode of transport and take the advantage of the modern urban life style while taking care of the environment and pollution that we produce.
The Mayor of the City of Skopje Koce Trajanovski underlined that intensive works are carried out to implement the three year plan by which the whole territory of Skopje, by 2017, will be connected with cycling lanes.
European Mobility Week took place between 16 and 22 September under the slogan “Choose. Change. Combine” under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning as national focal point. Celebration was joined by 15 cities throughout the country and all activities in the capital were organized by the City of Skopje in cooperation with the EU Delegation in Macedonia and EU Info Center in Skopje.
The Car Free Day was also organized in Veles, Berovo, Pehchevo, Bitola, Shtip, Negotino, Kochani, Nov Dojran, Strumica, Prilep, Ohrid, Kichevo, Kriva Palanka and Kumanovo.