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The municipalities of Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António (VRSA) will be hoisting the “Silver Flag for Mobility” today: this is a distinction that is awarded for measures taken to support citizens’ mobility. The “Silver Flag of the National Network of Cities and Towns with Mobility for All” will be hoisted today, 19th February, and was awarded after the two cities were assessed by the APPLA, the Portuguese Association of Land Planners.

It will be recorded that four Algarve municipalities (Loulé, Portimão, Tavira and VRSA) were founders of the “National Network of Cities and Towns with Mobility for All” in 2003/2004, which includes 32 municipalities.

To date, more that 70 municipalities have joined the project. Castro Marim, Faro, Lagos and Silves have joined Loulé, Portimão, Tavira and VRSA as representatives in the Algarve.

On the Mobility Network’s website (http://www.rededemobilidade.org/) it says that the project consists of a group of cities and towns in the country which have shown a desire to eliminate the main barriers in architecture and urban planning which may impede the mobility of any citizens.

The general aim of the organising bodies and members is to create the ideal conditions for everyone to move around with ease, irrespective of any physical handicap they may have.

APPLA, the association created at the Course in Regional and Urban Planning at the University of Aveiro, helps to develop projects and strategies to enable the municipalities to construct or reconstruct areas according to the needs of the whole population, as well as assessing the situation as regards mobility in each place.

Tavira and VRSA supporting mobility

In a statement, the Tavira Municipal Council says that they have been working to eliminate the main barriers in architecture and urban planning which may impede the mobility of any citizens.

The work that has been carried out by the Municipal Council of VRSA has also been with the aim of promoting “sustainable mobility”, seeking to get rid of architectural barriers with the ultimate aim of providing conditions for everyone to get around in safety and within a framework of improving the quality of life of everyone.

source: algarve observer