The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works is trying to integrate cycling into the everyday life of citizens, as a safe and reliable means of transport, sport and entertainment, Minister of Transport, Communications and Works Mr. Mr.
The inauguration ceremony was preceded by a bicycle ride starting from the University of Nicosia and finishing at the Nicosia Municipal Theatre, with the participation of many cyclists.
According to Mr. Karousos, the absence of bicycle infrastructure until now made it difficult for citizens to choose bicycles for their daily commute. Now, he said, this obstacle has been overcome, adding an economical and environmentally friendly option for citizens to move around Nicosia.
The promotion of cycling, the minister stressed, is part of the wider commitment of the ministry and the government to decarbonisation, as stated in the National Energy and Climate Plan 2021-2030, which envisages climate neutrality by 2050. By promoting cycling as a means of transport, the Government aims to improve the traffic problem by providing options for urban travel and introducing cycling into the daily lives of citizens. Furthermore, in addition to reducing the environmental footprint and urban noise, cycling promotes an enhanced quality of life, saves energy and helps reduce road wear and tear, Karousos said.
Speaking specifically about the cycling route inaugurated today, the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works described it as very important, as it will connect the Universities of Nicosia both with each other and with the city centre. The infrastructure, he said, is expected to serve students and contribute to reducing the financial burden on their families, as it is a much cheaper option to purchase and maintain a means of transport compared to the car. He called on students to make use of this new cycle route for their commuting and to integrate cycling into their daily lives, not only as a means of transport, but also as a means of sport and entertainment.
Finally, the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works thanked and congratulated the Mayor of Nicosia, the Management and Officers of the Sustainable Mobility Branch and the Office of the Nicosia District Engineer of the Public Works Department, the Technical Services of the Municipality, as well as the companies Dionysis Toumazi and Associates and KEDRIS CONSTRUCTION LTD for the preparation of the study for the construction plans of the second phase and the construction of the project, respectively.
In his turn, the Mayor of Nicosia Mr. Constantinos Yiorkatzis welcomed the attendees to the inauguration of the completed Phase B of the Cycle Paths project, which connects the universities of Nicosia with the City Centre.
The Municipality's vision is for Nicosia to develop into a more sustainable city for the benefit of future generations, underlined the Mayor of Nicosia, noting that the ecological footprint of the city should be minimized by reducing pollutants from cars and facilitating access to other forms of environmentally friendly transport, such as bicycles.
Speaking about the inclusion of the bicycle route within the Pediaion, he referred to the citizens living in the areas of Strovolos and Lakatamia, where they now have the opportunity to take their bicycle and, in a short time, visit the city centre.
While an important, pre-existing part of the project, the Mayor mentioned, falls within the boundaries of the Municipality of Egomi, as the start of the route is from Ilia Papakyriakou Street.
Finally, Mr. Yiorkatzis pointed out that with the completion of Phases C and D, which are expected to be tendered soon, the connection with Kaimakli and Pallouriotissa will be realized, thus completing the vision of the cycling fusion
The infrastructure inaugurated today is the 2nd of the 4 phases of the project (construction value: €2.235.000), it starts from Metochi of Kykkos and ends at Solomos Square and is 5.2 km long. The longest length of the cycle track runs on the road and the remaining length of the cycle track is located through the Nicosia Public Garden and next to the pavements. As part of the project, a 20 m long bridge has also been constructed over the Pediaion River, for pedestrian and cyclist use only, connecting Gladstonos Street with Herodotus Municipality Street.
The project was proposed through the Competitiveness and Sustainable Development Operational Programme, priority axis "Promotion of Sustainable Transport and Reduction of Carbon Dioxide Emissions", in order to promote active means of transport and the use of cycling as a means of transport. The project was co-financed 85% by the Cohesion Fund of the European Union and 15% by the Republic of Cyprus.
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