By ALDA – European Association for Local Democracy
The AUTREMENT project’s Inter-Regional Forum on Active Mobility, held on May 24-25 2023, in the beautiful city of Mahdia (Tunisia), was a resounding success, showcasing the celebration of sustainable urban development and the promotion of active mobility in Tunisia and beyond.
The Forum was organised by the AUTREMENT project consortium, which includes six partners: the cities of Kairouan, Mahdia, and Strasbourg, along with ALDA, CODATU, and CEREMA. In collaboration with UN Habitat and Cities Alliance, this event served as a pivotal platform for exchanging knowledgeable information, fostering networking opportunities, presenting the project’s results and boosting collaborative initiatives aimed at shaping a more sustainable tomorrow.
The event featured around 25 interactive activities that engaged participants throughout the two-day Forum and stimulating side events such as workshops and roundtable discussions took place in a dynamic context.
A standout moment was the participants’ opening bike parade who pedaled along the streets of Mahdia, showing the concrete potential of biking as one of the most sustainable and urban means of transport.
The event also included stands and exhibitions held by stakeholders dedicated to promoting active mobility. Special guests such as Lemon Tour, Cadr67 and Vélorution brought their own expertise adding valuable contributions to the discussion.
More than 150 experts coming from Tunisia and its neighborhood (Algeria, Italy and France) and representing around 60 state and non-state bodies, institutions and associations gathered fostering fruitful exchanges of best practices in the field of active mobility and urban development, while highlighting the wide-reaching impact of the event.
The 2-day event sets up several opportunities for attendees to quibble around public policies, tactical urbanism, bike services, gender mainstreaming, citizen consultations, “cyclotourism” or cycling tourism, decentralised cooperation, future cycling facilities and bike path management. Discussions’ outcomes showcased the Forum’s dedication to address different challenges and opportunities in the field of active mobility.
The Forum’s impact is going to extend beyond the event itself: ideas were shared and networks were formed, as the intent is to channel positive change both on a national and international level. The AUTREMENT project consortium remains at disposal in order to support concrete actions that will shape the future of urban mobility in Tunisia, paving the way towards greener, healthier and more sustainable communities.
Find here the link and watch the Forum’s aftermovie. Enjoy!