2025 Award "Best Practice in Citizen Participation"

Tirana's cycling transformation is an ambitious initiative of promoting the culture of cycling as a primary mode of sustainable urban mobility along with walking thus transforming the city into a greener, safer, and more inclusive space for all. This practice sought to address critical challenges such as traffic congestion, air pollution, and limited reliability of public transportation while fostering community engagement and healthier lifestyles.

The initiative revolves around the development of a city-wide protected cycling network, including over 62 kilometers of dedicated bike lanes and pedestrian-friendly streets. It places particular emphasis on accessibility, safety and skills ensuring that infrastructure accommodates cyclists of all ages, genders, and abilities, creating a truly equitable mobility system.

Citizen participation is a cornerstone of the practice. Through workshops, surveys, and public events, residents actively contribute to the design and implementation of new cycling infrastructure. A citywide campaign mobilized schools, kindergartens and women to adopt cycling as part of their daily routines, creating a culture of shared responsibility for the city's future. Additionally, the city introduced a Youth Cycling Ambassador Program, empowering young leaders to advocate for sustainable mobility and inspire their communities to embrace cycling as a way of life.

The project aligns notably with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and 13 (Climate Action) while contributing to 5 (Gender Equality). By prioritizing gender-inclusive cycling infrastructure and programs, Tirana actively challenges traditional mobility norms and promotes equal access to safe transportation for women and girls.

This ongoing initiative has already resulted in a measurable shift in transportation behavior, with cyclists making up to 17% of the mode-share according to recent data by the European Commission. By placing people at the center of its mobility policies, Tirana is setting a benchmark for sustainable, gender-inclusive, and participatory urban development in the region and beyond. In a historical precedent, Tirana has broken ground on the first-ever protected intersection in the Balkans, marking a significant step towards prioritizing cyclist and pedestrian safety through innovative urban design.

• https://aprtirana.al/shkolla-e-bicikletave/ (External link)