Kaunas: More Movement and More Participation

Imagine that you no longer need your car. Simply because your city has such beautiful bikelanes, green spaces and flexible, fast and stress-free public transport that you can’t resist. This is the idea behind the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) that is being implemented in the Lithuanian city of Kaunas. Kaunas is the second largest city in Lithuania, full of life, culture…and cars. Numerous studies conducted in Kaunas show that 57% of citizens move around the city by car and only 29% use public transport. Even fewer walk or cycle. In order to motivate citizens to take on more active mobility, the city administration plans to better connect the different areas of the city with the center and to create more green spaces. 22 km of sidewalks and underpasses are to be built throughout the city by the end of 2021. Promoting the use of bicycles is also on the agenda: 143 km of new bike lanes are to be created. Another measure is the establishment of a carfree zone in the city center by 2030. The plan is primarily oriented towards the wishes of citizens. Stakeholder representatives and the municipality meet quarterly to define priorities and create a roadmap together.