Limassol to mark European Mobility Week with ‘Laou Laou’ programme

Limassol, Cyprus. European Mobility Week will take place from September 16 to 22 under the theme “Mobility for Everyone”, with a local programme in Limassol titled “Laou Laou”.

The programme, organised by Friends of the Earth Cyprus, will examine transport choices, accessibility, public space, urban design and mobility justice.

Focus on access and quality of life

“Laou Laou”, a familiar Cypriot expression meaning slowly, gently and without rushing, invites residents to consider how they move through the fast-growing city.

Friends of the Earth Cyprus said the initiative is not intended to ask people simply to stop driving, but to recognise that for many residents a car may be the only realistic transport option.

The programme raises questions about whether people can rely on public transport, cycle safely or move independently if they are pushing a stroller, use a wheelchair, are elderly or do not own a car. These issues concern mobility, quality of life, fair access and public space.

Week of activities

Activities throughout the week will include cycling in the city, discussions on transport poverty and mobility justice, accessibility, public space and urban design, as well as residents’ accounts of their everyday experiences of moving through Limassol.

The programme will culminate in a car-free day on Gladstonos Street on Sunday. It will close on September 22 with “In Motion”, a short artistic documentary based on the everyday mobility experiences of Limassol residents.

Panel discussion

Friends of the Earth Cyprus will host the panel discussion “Creating an Inclusive City” on Friday, September 18, from 6pm to 8pm at the Amphitheatre of Molos.

The discussion will bring together perspectives from transport engineering, architecture and urban planning, civil society and residents’ lived experiences. It will examine the question of who the city is designed for, beyond infrastructure alone.