Islands seek sustainable mobility

Several Greek island municipalities are in the process of drafting plans to promote sustainable transport and tackle the effects of a surge in the population from summer visitors.

The so-called Sustainable Island Mobility Plan (SIMP) aims to offer flexible solutions that improve mobility, such as limiting the use of cars (mainly by tourists), introducing electric vehicles, promoting carpooling, reducing speed limits and improving the use of parking spaces.

"The demand for sustainable mobility on the islands is objectively different in relation to large urban centers or mainland municipalities. For example, on the islands we have a very large population fluctuation between summer and the rest of the year," Kosmas Anagnostopoulos, coordinator at CIVINET CY-EL, the Greek chapter of the CIVITAS network of cities dedicated to sustainable urban transport, told Kathimerini.