European Car-Free Day is marked across Bosnia and Herzegovina on September 22 through activities promoting walking, cycling and cleaner forms of urban transportation.
Bosnia and Herzegovina signed the charter supporting the European “In Town Without My Car” initiative in 2002. Since then, cities across the country have organized annual events intended to reduce dependence on private vehicles and return more public space to pedestrians.
The initiative also raises questions about whether Bosnian cities can develop more accessible, inclusive and environmentally sustainable transportation systems.
European Car-Free Day Began in France
The organized observance began in France in 1998, when a large part of central Paris was closed to cars for one day with the cooperation of city authorities.
The initiative quickly expanded across Europe. By 2000, approximately 760 European cities were participating.
That number increased to 1,005 cities in 2001, while the original one-day campaign gradually developed into a weeklong program.
European Mobility Week is now held from September 16 through September 22, concluding with European Car-Free Day. Bosnia and Herzegovina participates alongside European Union members and other countries.
Cleaner Transportation for Inclusive Cities
The mobility campaign promotes transportation with zero or low emissions and encourages cities to make public spaces accessible to all residents.
Its broader goals are connected to Europe’s ambition to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 under the European Green Deal.
Although European cities face different climate, geographic and socioeconomic conditions, local governments can introduce measures that support cleaner and more inclusive urban environments.
Those measures may include prioritizing pedestrians, cyclists and public transportation while reducing the amount of urban space dominated by private vehicles.
For Bosnia and Herzegovina, European Car-Free Day serves as an opportunity to consider how streets can become safer, healthier and more accessible public spaces for everyone.
