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Athens in Crisis, Sustainable Mobility and Climate Change

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Athens in Crisis, Sustainable Mobility and Climate Change Journal of Earth Science and Engineering 4 (2014) 352-360 D DAVID PUBLISHING Athens in Crisis, Sustainable Mobility and Climate Change Efthimios Bakogiannis and Maria Siti Department of Geography and Regional Planning, National Technical University of Athens, Athens 15780, Attica Region, Greece Received: April 10, 2014 / Accepted: May 06, 2014 / Published: June 25, 2014. Abstract: Athens, a metropolis characterized by agglutination and compactness, but at the same time facing numerous urban and transport issues, saw its population swell during the 20th century which led to extensive urbanization phenomena. This continued urbanization increases profoundly all urban activities with transportation being the key driver in energy consumption. Theories for sustainable cities prerequisite are the integration of a number of acts in order to reduce energy consumption, with mobility being the first consideration among others. The aim of this paper is to critically explore implemented policies and plans as well as forthcoming strategic plans in terms of sustainable mobility as imposed in large scale regeneration plans in contemporary Athens. Research focuses on strategic interventions since the 1980s, such as the Athenian Daktylios (ring road for circulation management) and its later adjustments, the upcoming pedestrianization and unification of the commercial triangle and its subsequent tram line extension as well as the notable implementation of the metropolitan cycling network. Moreover, the discussion takes into consideration the implications of the Greek economic crisis in mobility choices, as aimless travels have been reduced to a minimum, several cars have been abandoned and cyclists seem to tentatively claim some space in the urban environment. What will likely be the next day in the Athenian historic centre? Considering the transformations that are expected in the immediate future, this research paper explores their potential to enhance urban environment, reduce climate change impacts and amplify resilience. Key words: Urbanization, Athens, economic crisis, sustainable mobility. 1. Introduction GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions. The Greek national climate change agenda, in Most of the world population lives in cities, which respect to sustainable mobility, is particularly are immensely affected by climate change. It is inadequate. Greece is the penultimate of the EU well-known that urban activities cause the vast countries in the assessment of policies dealing with majority of impacts in the environment, while also climate change, according to the Climate Change they tend to be one of the main receivers of these Performance Index 2014 [2]. National policies do not numerous impacts. Floods, sea level rising, urban heat “convince” citizens to alter their daily habits and yet island effect, extreme weather conditions, air and the shortage of provision in infrastructures and action noise pollution among others [1] are encountered daily plans is high. Apparently, the economic recession of in urban settlements worldwide. Proposed solutions the last 5 years (2009-2013) has affected all factors of vary but, before we start using CDR (carbon dioxide the daily life and transportation could not remain removal) technologies, trying to capture and store CO2 intact. Though, the results of the above have not yet underground or even simultaneously, we should been researched in depth. Athens, concentrating consider thoroughly the impact of mobility choices in 40%-50% of the Greek population, is essentially, Corresponding author: Efthimios Bakogiannis, Ph.D. disrupted in all forms of social and economic life, candidate, researcher, research fields: urban governance, urban however, it still attracts funds for some urban planning, sustainable urban mobility, transportation engineering, public consultation, policy making. E-mail: regeneration schemes. Data shows that the crisis has [email protected]. Athens in Crisis, Sustainable Mobility and Climate Change 353 drifted transportation factors in a considerable level. car-dependent city (53% of car share, according to the Speeds have been reduced in all means to save money TEMS Modal Split Tool [3]) and car is used even for and daily trips with public transport have been limited 5-15 min of walking distances, especially in less dense to the necessary. areas. During the last 15 years, there are a number of implemented measures and completed infrastructures 2. Aims and Objectives to upgrade the transportation service level such as the The paper interrogates the relationship between development of the metro network, tram network and urban planning policies and mitigation of climate suburban railway, the renewal of bus fleet with many change impacts in urban space. The analysis focuses green buses, the development of Attiki Odos (the on the Athenian conurbation and examines sustainable mayor peri-urban highway) and many more. However, urban mobility strategies and their implementation mobility and accessibility issues had little attention during the last decade. A number of past and future and a few fragmented actions have been considered regeneration schemes are reported and assessed under towards integrated sustainable urban mobility strategic the scope of actual contribution on the sustainability plans. of the city. From the implementation of the first ring Sustainable urban mobility is the science field that road for circulation management in 1982 and its serves community needs for moving freely, having evolution till the future plans for partial access to all infrastructures, being able to pedestrianization of Panepistimiou Street and the communicate and interact with fellow citizens, coming rebuilt of traffic and urban characteristics of without “sacrificing” basic human or environmental the city centre. requirements and prospects today or in the future [4]. Moreover, this report is a first approach to the Its basic principles are environmental protection, impacts of the Greek economic recession in mobility safety, protection and promotion of human health, choices. The authors collected and compiled serving of population needs for mobility, support of numerical data and conclusions from completed socially just economic activity, reduction of mobility surveys and researches, concerning the period costs, deterioration of infrastructure costs, etc.. In between 2009 and 2013, regarding modifications in summary, it is the way of planning cities in a way that mobility habits and the factors that have caused these is friendly for all users and the urban environment. changes. Alterations in car ownership, bus trips and European Committee has issued on 2007, the Green passenger behavior are reported along with the Paper: towards a new culture for urban mobility, prevailing emergence of walking and cycling. Results aiming at the development of international and extracted from this first approach are temporary and national sustainable urban mobility action plans and not yet completed, though they show tendencies and strategies. Greece, as a member of the EU, has signed immediate impacts from financial cuts in the transport many European directives and laws that require the sector of Athens. reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, the circulation of only green vehicles in city centers by 3. Athens in the Path of Sustainable Urban 2050 and others. The above require integrated Mobility strategies in the national level as well as the Athens metropolitan area consists of almost 30 formulation of acts and plans in the local level. municipalities and is inhabited by almost 4 million Athens has significantly delayed to develop and people, with the Municipality of Athens being the implement a SUMP (sustainable urban mobility plan), most dense and compact. Athens is a highly for various reasons, such as the lack of an integrated 354 Athens in Crisis, Sustainable Mobility and Climate Change urban and transport planning attitude, the numerous achieve the needed level of a successful and efficient misconceptions about public and open spaces as well network, such as the expansion of bus network, the as the involvement of too many “interrelated” modernization of operating systems with telematics, administration bodies regarding the coordination of etc.. It is also reported that there is an imbalance of such plans. Encouragingly though, 2012 was the year investing in underground means of transport (i.e., that the “strategic plan for transportation and metro) rather than on ground infrastructures (i.e., tram sustainable mobility in Athens” was firstly introduced and bus network), an evidence that indicates the as part of the Strategic plan of Athens, and in 2013, a indecisiveness of authorities to intervene in the actual bike sharing system in the Municipality of Athens was urban street level. Regarding cycling, progress is slow strongly debated. but steady with a number of municipalities acting pro Towards the implementation of such plans, there cycling however with numerous administration issues. are numerous needed transformations regarding the Athens Metropolitan Cycling Network, as planned by management of public transport, the development of the Sustainable Mobility Unit of NTUA (National an extended cycling network, the systematic upgrade Technical University of Athens) with the contribution of public spaces and the establishment of an integrated of the largest cycling group in Athens, has been pedestrian network, with the most important being the incorporated in the Strategic Plan of Athens 2021 and alteration
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