"It's good cycling here!" is the most recent project being implemented in Póvoa de Varzim as it was approved and eligible for funding by the Environmental Fund and the Environment and Energy National Agency (ENEA) in August. This green project integrates our Environmental Education Local Plan and it aims to promote the use of soft modes of transport among children.
This project will enable us to implement cycling routes to a number of selected primary schools so that every student has the opportunity to learn how to cycle while complying with the basic traffic rules in a safe and regulated environment. Children represent a key target group in this regard, not only for their impact in terms of internalisation of new and more sustainable behaviours, but also for their multiplying effect in the community.
Despite its smaller scale, the cycling routes to the primary schools are similar to the ones already placed along more than 30km of our city, so that children are confident enough to practice cycling, with their family members and friends, outside school.
Apart from its strong mobility impact, this project will also play an important role in strengthening children's principles of active citizenship and their awareness towards the environment and healthier lifestyles. Moreover, this project, implemented in the European Mobility Week, was also instrumental for the educational community as it demanded a more innovative and practical approach from teachers in terms of envisioning their civic and physical education classes.
