“Car free day” in Sarajevo, 2002

Supported by the ministry in charge for these issues in Canton Sarajevo and other institutions of this canton “Ekotim” realized the project “Car free day” in 2002. This way the capital of our country joined many cities that had air pollution problems and used to organize similar events. Manifestation “Car free day” in Europe is organized in over one thousand cities, but for the first time was organized in Paris in 1998. The main aim of this project is improving the knowledge about the greatness of problems caused by traffic pollutions and developing the ecological conscious of people and making the government to act towards solving these problems.

 

The campaign in media had started thirty days before the date chosen for this event, September 22, 2002, and it was done by printed propaganda materials such as billboards and also was supported by printed and audio media such as broadcasting the jingle on local radio station Studentski eFM Radio. We also broadcast TV spot on several TV stations which cover Canton Sarajevo.  On the very day in a city centre was brought out a stand for the research on citizens’ opinion on this topic. Also the traffic was stopped for the vehicles using engines. Also the event of people riding bikes called “Biciklijada”. People were also given educational materials on this topic.

In October 2002 our organization applied to the institutions in charge to make some restrictions in traffic in the city centre. The application was based on the public opinion given in the research on “Car free day”. Since all media was involved citizens were well informed about this event.

The representatives of Bosnia-Herzegovina signed the MEMORANDUM OF EUROPIAN INITIATIVE “INTO TOWN WITHOUT CAR”.