ESKİŞEHİR HOSTS THE OPENING OF EUROPEAN MOBILITY WEEK

European Mobility Week, celebrated from September 16-22 with the support of the European Union and coordination of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye, began in Eskişehir. The opening ceremony at the Ulus Monument was held with Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ayşe Ünlüce, Odunpazarı Mayor Kazım Kurt, and Tepebaşı Mayor Ahmet Ataç arriving at the venue from various locations across the city by foot, public transport, and bicycle.

Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (TBB) kicked off this year's European Mobility Week in Eskişehir. The week, which began with the participation of Deputy Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Türkiye Jürgis Vilcinskas, Austrian Ambassador Gabriel Juen, Linz Mayor Dietmar Prammer, TBB Deputy Secretary General Dr. Şengül Altan Arslan, mayors, numerous representatives of civil society organizations, municipal bureaucrats, and citizens, produced a vibrant scene.

At the opening ceremony, which highlighted the importance of sustainable transportation, Metropolitan Mayor Ayşe Ünlüce walked from in front of the Metropolitan Municipality building with Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Türkiye Jürgis Vilcinskas, Austrian Ambassador Gabriel Juen, Linz Mayor Dietmar Prammer, TBB Deputy Secretary General Dr. Şengül Altan Arslan, NGOs, and citizens, reaching the Ulus Monument. Odunpazarı Mayor Kazım Kurt left his car at the "Park & Go" lot provided by the Metropolitan Municipality in the Kentaş parking lot at the Intercity Bus Terminal, and then boarded the tram. Bar association members joined Kurt by boarding the tram in front of the courthouse. Kurt and the bar association members got off at the Es-Es stop and joined Ünlüce in walking. The mayors, protocol members, and NGOs all arrived at the Ulus Monument together. Tepebaşı Mayor Ahmet Ataç arrived at the ceremony area with groups of bicycles, setting off from the Yazılıkaya Monument, which was brought to the city as a collective work during the 17th International Terracotta Symposium.

Speaking at the first ceremony held in front of the Nation Monument, TBB Deputy Secretary General Dr. Şengül Altan Arslan said, "Creating strong and happy cities like Eskişehir begins with seeing every voice raised in the streets, every step taken, and every being with whom we share the city as equals." In his speech, she began by saying, "You may only see these events within the scope of European Mobility Week. However, the real goal is to change our habits beyond this and to build a sustainable future together by encouraging local decision-makers. Therefore, European Mobility Week events are just one leg of a much broader national policy framework. With this initiative, we aim to make our cities, including all their components, more livable, reduce emissions through environmentally friendly travel options, and provide affordable, reliable, and trouble-free transportation for everyone. As TBB, we are doing our part to raise awareness on this matter. However, the driving force behind such efforts lies with municipalities and central governments. We believe that sustainable urban transport efforts must be carried out hand in hand with citizen participation to make this vision a reality. That's precisely why we wanted to begin celebrating European Mobility Week 2025 in Eskişehir, a leading city that prioritizes citizen participation and promotes and advances these principles, hand in hand with its citizens. I would especially like to thank Eskişehir which I believe will serve as an example for other cities and Metropolitan Mayor Ayşe Ünlüce for hosting this event."

Jürgis Vilcinskas, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Türkiye, emphasized the importance of launching European Mobility Week in Eskişehir, saying, "Because Eskişehir shows us that mobility is not about the past; it is about the future we want to create for our children, students, employees, and elders. Mobility is about buses, trams, and bicycles, but mobility is, above all, about people. We learned this by making difficult choices in Europe. Change is difficult, but it is worth it. Eskişehir, you have already been courageous in this area before. At a time when many said it was impossible, you established one of Türkiye's first tram networks with EU support. Today, these trams are the pride of your city... Now you can show courage again: Expand clean transport, embrace electrification, promote safe cycling, and reclaim the streets for people. The European Union will be with you in this. Eskişehir! Are you ready to show this courage once again? "Mobility for All" is not just a slogan here, but a reality in Europe." "Are you ready to show it?" he said.

Tepebaşı Mayor Ahmet Ataç said, "We hold ceremonies every year during European Mobility Week. But this year, with Mayor Ayşe becoming Mayor of the Metropolitan Municipality, this wonderful event has entered the lives of the people of Eskişehir on such a large scale for the first time. Our dear friend, the chargé d'affaires, had very nice things to say. He talked about what's being done in Europe and gave us some advice. He said it's very important for two women to be able to travel alone in a city. I'd like to invite the chargé d'affaires; let's take a walk around Eskişehir together one evening. Mobility is very important for people. From childhood, and especially in older age, exercise has a positive impact on human health. There's a saying, "Move, don't rust," which is a very important health statement. This mobility is being continued abroad with bike paths. Mayor Ayşe has started opening bike paths. I've always said that our lack of bike paths is our Achilles' heel. But today, despite some criticism, bike paths are being opened in Eskişehir. I wholeheartedly support Mayor Ayşe. The words "sustainability" and "mobility" are constantly appearing. "Mobility is crucial. It brings health, peace, and resilience to cities. As mayors, we must set an example in this regard. We've been doing this for 20-25 years. Everything in Eskişehir has changed. We're all noticing the change, especially in Tepebaşı. So, I thank you all so much for your support."

Odunpazarı Mayor Kazım Kurt, who stated that there was intense participation in the event, continued his speech with the following words:

Today, at this event organized by our municipalities, together with TBB for European Mobility Week, I would like to address you, Mr. President of TBB, but unfortunately, he is greeting you from Silivri. I will suffice with saying, "With our Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General." Türkiye is experiencing a truly dynamic period. This political momentum needs to translate into practical action.

Mayor Kurt stated that Eskişehir's municipalities strive to ensure urban mobility under all circumstances. He emphasized that the abundance of green spaces, the abundance of walking paths, and the strong street culture of Eskişehir residents contribute significantly to this dynamism. He said, "The missing bike paths are now being completed, and the transformation is growing and evolving. With this event, we are demonstrating once again that we are part of Europe. Regardless of the political stance taken by the European Union, Türkiye is European. Türkiye will be European because 100 years ago, our Great Leader commanded us to reach and surpass the level of contemporary civilization. At this point, we see ourselves as European, and I hope our European friends see us that way too. I offer my respects and thank you all."

 In his closing remarks, Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ayşe Ünlüce said, "We all started the day with an enthusiastic walk this morning. We set off on foot in front of the Metropolitan Municipality building. Then, we met with Mayor Kazım Kurt at the tram stop. There, we gathered with Mayor Ahmet Ataç and our cyclists and kicked off our event. This is exactly what Eskişehir is like... A city that values its pedestrianized streets, increases bike lanes every year, constantly strengthens public transportation, and whose trams glide through the city center like swans. There's a frequently used metaphor for Eskişehir: 'Europe's visa-free city. Truly a truly European city... We want to further enhance Eskişehir's identity. Therefore, we invite everyone to visit Eskişehir and breathe in the air of this beautiful city. We will celebrate this week with enthusiasm. We've launched the 'Walk for Your City' movement. You'll see this campaign on billboards across the city shortly. You can download the app to your mobile phone by scanning the QR code there." "Let's all walk together and make Eskişehir the first city in Türkiye in walking. Are you in? So what shall we do? We're making Eskişehir a leading city. I also extend my heartfelt thanks to the European Union and Austrian delegations who joined us from abroad and shared these beautiful moments with us. We're so glad they came; the city became even more beautiful with their presence. Let's stick to public transportation. Let's ride our bikes, walk, and run in the streets," he said. Mayor Ünlüce also shared some good news and continued:

"In 2026, we are launching a 'Car-Free Day' every Sunday. 26 is our city's license plate. It means a lot to us. Therefore, every Sunday, we will close some streets to vehicle traffic. Now, I ask you: Are we ready for a car-free day?

Every Sunday in 2026, we will celebrate and experience this with festivities on the streets of Eskişehir. We will make way for cyclists and pedestrians. We will create opportunities. Together, we will continue to walk for a greener, more sustainable, and more livable Eskişehir."

Following the speeches, officials and citizens made a vibrant start to the week, accompanied by a vibrant display of vibrant displays. The Tepebaşı Municipality Eco Show Rhythm Group's performance was met with considerable interest, and a bicycle was awarded to one person in a competition organized by the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye as part of European Mobility Week.

European Mobility Week, one of the most important awareness campaigns conducted by the European Commission to raise awareness of sustainable urban mobility, kicked off in Eskişehir with vibrant displays and strong participation. A variety of events will be held throughout the week in Eskişehir, aiming to encourage citizens to participate in Mobility Week.