RCM: Open Street Event at COVID times

The Region of Central Macedonia successfully adapted its citizens' Open Street Event to current COVID-19 rules. An online questionnaire for mining needs and a competition to engage youngsters in co-planning for sustainable school transportation were submitted to the wider audience.

The result of previous e-smartec exercises in the Region of Central Macedonia (RCM) revealed the need for supporting actions that would enable to promote sustainable ways of conducting school trips. Aiming to change the commonly observed phenomenon of congested roads around schools at drop off and pick up times, with cars being badly and disorganizedly parked and with the consequent negative impacts in air quality and safety, RCM is getting in touch with parents and carers and their referring associations, as well as school administrators and teachers, to find the way out!

First step was the conduction of an online questionnaire for parents and carers and which addressed individual school transportation needs and identified the willingness of change towards sustainable ways of transportation under specific conditions (as circumstances require, the impact of COVID-19 on travel choices was also explored). ‘Engaging school community in active and safe mobility’ online questionnaire was launched at the middle of September 2020.

Accompanying action for further stimulating parents and students’ interest in shifting towards sustainable mobility options has been the students’ competition that was launched at the beginning of October 2020: ‘This is sustainable school transportation; draw it or take a photo!’ for primary school students (painting contest) and for high school students (photo competition).