MUNICIPALITIES: 124 PRACTICES
The Municipality of Kalamata extends from the cove of the Messinian Gulf to the peaks of the Taygetos and the plain of Pamisos. It has a population of 69,849 (2011) and develops actions to serve its citizens and protect the environment.
The present action aims at reintegrating the bicycle in city life and at the same time at promoting non-motorized transport to improve city sustainability. Aiming at sustainable mobility, a network of bicycle paths - sidewalks is created through urban and natural landscapes, covering both the wider area of the city center and the outskirts of the city and extending parallel to the sea front. This network follows routes that are rarely encountered by the residents of Kalamata when moving on the road network and crosses a variety of landscapes that are constantly changing, making the transportation pleasant and interesting, since the bicycle primarily allows and even encourages the observation of the environment. At the same time, for the average citizen, it is a way out of the closed spaces in which he spends almost all day, offering him the opportunity to escape from everyday life, relax, and enjoy the route.
The bicycle network that is created can be used by residents of all ages and all economic strata (given its low cost characteristics), while it already covers an important part of the city and will cover even more in the future with projects that are already underway.
However, in addition to their potential use by all residents of the city in general, the widening of cycling routes and the emergence of the bicycle as a crucial means of transport, motivates, particularly the young people of the city, to adopt it as it combines the economic benefit with ease of movement and sports.
Finally, the very easily understood and distinct network of bicycle paths of Kalamata can become the primary transportation network of visitors as it is organized, easily accessible and runs through most of the city points of tourist interest.
The network of sidewalks-bicycle paths that has been created and is constantly expanding, has no limited lifespan and its contribution to the sustainable development of the area is expected to increase over time.
Kalamata is a medium-sized city in Greece with a permanent population of over 60,000 inhabitants that in summer months exceeds 100,000 with visitors and vacationers. The mild climate and the absolutely flat terrain, both of its urban fabric and of its surrounding suburban area, favor the use of the bicycle, which has historically been the main means of transport for its inhabitants.
The urban fabric of the city of Kalamata has been developed in two directions, one of them parallel to the sea front and the other one vertical to it, while its road network presents discontinuities in its course as well as differences in the geometric characteristics of its cross section. This is the typical urban fabric for a Greek city where the use of the car is predominant. The car adds burden to the city both by moving in it and by claiming space for parking.
After a series of interventions in the city of Kalamata, the Municipality created an easily perceptible network of two-way bicycle lanes which follow routes that adapt to the ever-changing landscape of the city and pass through its main points of attraction highlighting them.
From this bicycle path network, routes of a total length of 9,700 meters cross the urban space, while 4,500 meters of bicycle paths cross the direct suburban space. The network consists of a central route, with two parallel branches with a length of 2,900 meters and 2,000 meters, that crosses the central urban area from north to south. These routes lead to the coastal front of the city, where another route of 4,350 meters runs from west to east. Along with this network, the suburban routes are created. The main one of them is being implemented on the coastal western front, has a length of 1,100 meters and is connecting the city with the coastal settlement of Agios Dionysios (Kordia). Another one runs through the central jetty and has a length of 1,200 meters, while there is a route parallel to the OSE train line that leads to the new town hall and is 450 meters long and finally a 2,200 meters long route along river Aris (that leads to the important archaeological site of Akovitika). All suburban routes highlight forgotten sites of the outskirts of the city.
The goal of reintegrating the bicycle into city life has already been largely achieved, as a significant portion of residents and visitors now choose the bicycle as a means of transportation from neighborhoods to the center, to parks and squares, to schools, to the beach and also to peripheral sites of interest. Also, the bicycle has become an important means of recreation and sports.
This achievement has improved the quality of life in the city as it creates a healthier environment for residents, who also have the ability to exercise daily during their travels.
Overall, the reduction in car use caused by increase of bicycle use has upgraded the city to various levels, enhancing its green and environmentally friendly character and making a significant contribution towards achieving the European and global goals for sustainable development.
In the long run, the network of sidewalks-bicycle paths that was created will further upgrade the quality of life and the environment of the city of Kalamata, while, given the acceptance it already shows, it is expected to expand further in the coming years and macroscopically interconnect the whole of the city space, establishing the bicycle as the dominant means of transportation.
A significant contribution to this direction will come from the investment, which is currently under way, for installing bicycle rental stations in various parts of the city. This will help by increasing the degree of autonomy of the bicycle, as there will no longer be the commitment of its parking, while at the same time the cost of periodic use will get further reduced, because it will only be necessary to rent it.
The network of bicycle paths extends not only in the wider area of the center but also at the outskirts of the city, as well as in parallel with the sea front, through urban and natural landscapes. With the bicycle as a means, a series of free spaces of the city are integrated, where the cyclist can coexist with the pedestrian, communicate with him, but also with the other cyclists he meets, encouraging the social interaction of the citizens.
NO
YES
The goal of reintegrating the bicycle into city life has already been largely achieved, as a significant portion of residents and visitors now choose the bicycle as a means of transportation from neighborhoods to the center, to parks and squares, to schools, to the beach and also to peripheral sites of interest. Also, the bicycle has become an important means of recreation and sports.
This achievement has improved the quality of life in the city as it creates a healthier environment for residents, who also have the ability to exercise daily during their travels.
Overall, the reduction in car use caused by increase of bicycle use has upgraded the city to various levels, enhancing its green and environmentally friendly character and making a significant contribution towards achieving the European and global goals for sustainable development.
In the long run, the network of sidewalks-bicycle paths that was created will further upgrade the quality of life and the environment of the city of Kalamata, while, given the acceptance it already shows, it is expected to expand further in the coming years and macroscopically interconnect the whole of the city space, establishing the bicycle as the dominant means of transportation.
A significant contribution to this direction will come from the investment, which is currently under way, for installing bicycle rental stations in various parts of the city. This will help by increasing the degree of autonomy of the bicycle, as there will no longer be the commitment of its parking, while at the same time the cost of periodic use will get further reduced, because it will only be necessary to rent it.
