Alan \

Just a short message to let you all know that the European Mobility Week (
18 -22 September) is due later this month. Just like Labour day is a public
holiday, so several cities celebrate the Mobility Week by organising a
car-free day on which private motor vehicles may not be used in them - but
local public transport by bus, tram and metro is free. This year,
accessibility will be the central focus. The aim is to create a pleasant
city, which provides sustainable mobility for ALL people, meeting the
specific needs of different groups in our society. With this focal theme,
the European Mobility Week wants to contribute to the European Year of
Persons with Disabilities.

If you want to avoid the risk of inadvertently having to change your travel
plans - or to see how you can take advantage of this initiative - you should
visit the European Mobility Week website :
http://www.22september.org/ .

Note that in some cases, the annual "Heritage Day" on which many interesting
historic buildings are exceptionally open to visitors will be held during
this week. For details of dates and themes, see:
http://www.coe.int/T/E/Cultural_Co-o....asp#TopOfPage


Regards,

Alan (in Brussels)

The Reid

Following up to Alan (in Brussels)

    >If you want to avoid the risk of inadvertently having to change your travel
    >plans - or to see how you can take advantage of this initiative - you should
    >visit the European Mobility Week website :
    >http://www.22september.org/ .

thanks for that, I live in fear of arriving at a city with a car
full of luggage and not being able to get in.
--
Mike Reid
"Art is the lie that reveals the truth" P.Picasso
UK walking "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" <-- you can email us@ this site
Spain,cuisines and walking "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" <-- "reply to" here is spamtrap

Carol Cohen

"Alan \(in Brussels\)" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
    > Just a short message to let you all know that the European Mobility Week (
    > 18 -22 September) is due later this month. Just like Labour day is a public
    > holiday, so several cities celebrate the Mobility Week by organising a
    > car-free day on which private motor vehicles may not be used in them - but
    > local public transport by bus, tram and metro is free. This year,
    > accessibility will be the central focus. The aim is to create a pleasant
    > city, which provides sustainable mobility for ALL people, meeting the
    > specific needs of different groups in our society. With this focal theme,
    > the European Mobility Week wants to contribute to the European Year of
    > Persons with Disabilities.
    >
    > If you want to avoid the risk of inadvertently having to change your travel
    > plans - or to see how you can take advantage of this initiative - you should
    > visit the European Mobility Week website :
    > http://www.22september.org/ .
    >
    > Note that in some cases, the annual "Heritage Day" on which many interesting
    > historic buildings are exceptionally open to visitors will be held during
    > this week. For details of dates and themes, see:
    > http://www.coe.int/T/E/Cultural_Co-o....asp#TopOfPage
    >
    >
    > Regards,
    >
    > Alan (in Brussels)

Thanks, Alan. I will be sightseeing in Brussels & Paris 16-25
September and I looked at the sites you mentioned. But I could not
find specific answers to my questions: 1. Is 22 September a "free
public transportation day" in Brussels and Paris? 2. What aspects of
this Mobility Week affect the ordinary Metro-riding and walking
tourist?

Carol

Marie Lewis

In article <[email protected]>, "Alan (in Brussels)"
<[email protected]> writes
    >Just a short message to let you all know that the European Mobility Week (
    >18 -22 September) is due later this month. Just like Labour day is a public
    >holiday, so several cities celebrate the Mobility Week by organising a
    >car-free day on which private motor vehicles may not be used in them - but
    >local public transport by bus, tram and metro is free. This year,
    >accessibility will be the central focus. The aim is to create a pleasant
    >city, which provides sustainable mobility for ALL people,


It won't be too good for people who are unable to walk or who have
difficulty in walking.

I could not, for instance, walk to a bus stop or get on a bus!
We shall be arriving in France on September 22. I have the blue
disabled parking cards. What happens to me?
--
Marie Lewis

Miguel Cruz

Carol Cohen <[email protected]> wrote:
    > Thanks, Alan. I will be sightseeing in Brussels & Paris 16-25 September
    > and I looked at the sites you mentioned. But I could not find specific
    > answers to my questions: 1. Is 22 September a "free public transportation
    > day" in Brussels and Paris? 2. What aspects of this Mobility Week affect
    > the ordinary Metro-riding and walking tourist?

Click in the individual country and then city for specific details:

http://www.mobilityweek-europe.org/p...ticipation.php

miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu

David Horne

Marie Lewis <[email protected]> wrote:

    > In article <[email protected]>, "Alan (in Brussels)"
    > <[email protected]> writes
    > >Just a short message to let you all know that the European Mobility Week (
    > >18 -22 September) is due later this month. Just like Labour day is a public
    > >holiday, so several cities celebrate the Mobility Week by organising a
    > >car-free day on which private motor vehicles may not be used in them - but
    > >local public transport by bus, tram and metro is free. This year,
    > >accessibility will be the central focus. The aim is to create a pleasant
    > >city, which provides sustainable mobility for ALL people,
    >
    >
    > It won't be too good for people who are unable to walk or who have
    > difficulty in walking.

The last two sentences in the previous post just whooshed right past
you, didn't they!

Believe it or not, there _are_ people in the world who can't walk and
don't have cars. Strange, but true!

    > I could not, for instance, walk to a bus stop or get on a bus!

Well then you might want to think about what happens to people that
don't drive then, if they have similar problems walking. Public
transport in many parts of the world is trying much better to accomodate
such people. It's still not far enough though, and in many places it's
not consistent enough. For example, there are some modes of public
transport locally which accomodate wheelchairs very well- the metrolink,
_certain_ bus companies and certain buses. But, it's not widespread
enough.

    > We shall be arriving in France on September 22. I have the blue
    > disabled parking cards. What happens to me?

Well, avoid the cities in question, or try and experience what the poor,
unwashed masses who don't (or can't afford to) drive have to do on a
daily basis.

David

--
David Horne- www.davidhorne.co.uk
davidhorne (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk

Alan \

In the message: [email protected]...
"Miguel Cruz" <[email protected]> wrote:

    > Carol Cohen <[email protected]> wrote:
    > > Thanks, Alan. I will be sightseeing in Brussels & Paris 16-25 September
    > > and I looked at the sites you mentioned. But I could not find specific
    > > answers to my questions: 1. Is 22 September a "free public
transportation
    > > day" in Brussels and Paris? 2. What aspects of this Mobility Week
affect
    > > the ordinary Metro-riding and walking tourist?
    > Click in the individual country and then city for specific details:
    > http://www.mobilityweek-europe.org/p...ticipation.php
For Brussels, the car-free /free public transport day is Sunday 21
September. A 'user guide' is available on-line, eg in French at the URL:

http://www.ieb.be/smob/21sept03-mode_d_emploi.htm

Follow Miguel Cruz's advice to obtain details of the situation in Paris.

Regards,

Alan (in Brussels)

Gregory Morrow

Alan (in Brussels) wrote:

    > Just a short message to let you all know that the European Mobility Week (
    > 18 -22 September) is due later this month. Just like Labour day is a
public
    > holiday, so several cities celebrate the Mobility Week by organising a
    > car-free day on which private motor vehicles may not be used in them - but
    > local public transport by bus, tram and metro is free. This year,
    > accessibility will be the central focus. The aim is to create a pleasant
    > city, which provides sustainable mobility for ALL people, meeting the
    > specific needs of different groups in our society. With this focal theme,
    > the European Mobility Week wants to contribute to the European Year of
    > Persons with Disabilities.


I hope this goes better than those ridiculous "Critical Mass" bicycle events
that clog up US cities from time to time.....

--
Best
Greg who is carless 365 days per year here in Chicago....

Frank F. Matthews

Strange Alan. Two weeks ahead & I don't appear to see that they have
managed to actually sign up any major cities. I wonder how many cars
there will be in central London, Paris, of Rome on September 22? FFM

Alan (in Brussels) wrote:
    > Just a short message to let you all know that the European Mobility Week (
    > 18 -22 September) is due later this month. Just like Labour day is a public
    > holiday, so several cities celebrate the Mobility Week by organising a
    > car-free day on which private motor vehicles may not be used in them - but
    > local public transport by bus, tram and metro is free. This year,
    > accessibility will be the central focus. The aim is to create a pleasant
    > city, which provides sustainable mobility for ALL people, meeting the
    > specific needs of different groups in our society. With this focal theme,
    > the European Mobility Week wants to contribute to the European Year of
    > Persons with Disabilities.
    >
    > If you want to avoid the risk of inadvertently having to change your travel
    > plans - or to see how you can take advantage of this initiative - you should
    > visit the European Mobility Week website :
    > http://www.22september.org/ .
    >
    > Note that in some cases, the annual "Heritage Day" on which many interesting
    > historic buildings are exceptionally open to visitors will be held during
    > this week. For details of dates and themes, see:
    > http://www.coe.int/T/E/Cultural_Co-o....asp#TopOfPage
    >
    >
    > Regards,
    >
    > Alan (in Brussels)
    >
    >
    >
    >

Frank F. Matthews

Yeah right Miguel. One 50 ft road closure and a few blocks in Camden.
Really car free. FFM

Miguel Cruz wrote:

    > Carol Cohen <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    >>Thanks, Alan. I will be sightseeing in Brussels & Paris 16-25 September
    >>and I looked at the sites you mentioned. But I could not find specific
    >>answers to my questions: 1. Is 22 September a "free public transportation
    >>day" in Brussels and Paris? 2. What aspects of this Mobility Week affect
    >>the ordinary Metro-riding and walking tourist?
    >
    >
    > Click in the individual country and then city for specific details:
    >
    > http://www.mobilityweek-europe.org/p...ticipation.php
    >
    > miguel

Frank F. Matthews

Marie Lewis wrote:

    > In article <[email protected]>, "Alan (in Brussels)"
    > <[email protected]> writes
    >
    >> Just a short message to let you all know that the European Mobility
    >> Week (
    >> 18 -22 September) is due later this month. Just like Labour day is a
    >> public
    >> holiday, so several cities celebrate the Mobility Week by organising a
    >> car-free day on which private motor vehicles may not be used in them -
    >> but
    >> local public transport by bus, tram and metro is free. This year,
    >> accessibility will be the central focus. The aim is to create a pleasant
    >> city, which provides sustainable mobility for ALL people,

    > It won't be too good for people who are unable to walk or who have
    > difficulty in walking.
    >
    > I could not, for instance, walk to a bus stop or get on a bus!
    > We shall be arriving in France on September 22. I have the blue
    > disabled parking cards. What happens to me?

Paris does not appear to be participating. And most places are closing
a couple of blocks. Don't start to worry. FFM

Frank F. Matthews

David Horne wrote:

    > Marie Lewis <[email protected]> wrote:
    >>In article <[email protected]>, "Alan (in Brussels)"
    >><[email protected]> writes
    >>>Just a short message to let you all know that the European Mobility Week (
    >>>18 -22 September) is due later this month. Just like Labour day is a public
    >>>holiday, so several cities celebrate the Mobility Week by organising a
    >>>car-free day on which private motor vehicles may not be used in them - but
    >>>local public transport by bus, tram and metro is free. This year,
    >>>accessibility will be the central focus. The aim is to create a pleasant
    >>>city, which provides sustainable mobility for ALL people,

    >>It won't be too good for people who are unable to walk or who have
    >>difficulty in walking.

    > The last two sentences in the previous post just whooshed right past
    > you, didn't they!
    > Believe it or not, there _are_ people in the world who can't walk and
    > don't have cars. Strange, but true!

    >>I could not, for instance, walk to a bus stop or get on a bus!

    > Well then you might want to think about what happens to people that
    > don't drive then, if they have similar problems walking. Public
    > transport in many parts of the world is trying much better to accomodate
    > such people. It's still not far enough though, and in many places it's
    > not consistent enough. For example, there are some modes of public
    > transport locally which accomodate wheelchairs very well- the metrolink,
    > _certain_ bus companies and certain buses. But, it's not widespread
    > enough.

    >>We shall be arriving in France on September 22. I have the blue
    >>disabled parking cards. What happens to me?

    > Well, avoid the cities in question, or try and experience what the poor,
    > unwashed masses who don't (or can't afford to) drive have to do on a
    > daily basis. David

Or just ignore the bullshit and realize that nearly nothing will be
different. DOn't panic. Or perhaps call your hotel and ask if you
should cancel since you are afraid that you won't be able to get there.

FFM

Marie Lewis

In article <[email protected]>, Frank F.
Matthews <[email protected]> writes
    >>Well, avoid the cities in question, or try and experience what the poor,
    >> unwashed masses who don't (or can't afford to) drive have to do on a
    >> daily basis. David


I do not know who this person is, but he must be aware that, in the UK,
many disabled people have cars and are even helped to buy them by
government grants.

I find your callous comment inhuman I hope that you never find yourself
unable to walk.

What the people of whom you speak do, is stay at home. They are
housebound. Is that what you wish for the disabled?
--
Marie Lewis

David Horne

Marie Lewis <[email protected]> wrote:

    > I do not know who this person is, but he must be aware that, in the UK,
    > many disabled people have cars and are even helped to buy them by
    > government grants.

Many is _not_ all. Many wheelchair users in the UK don't drive, and get
around every day.

    > I find your callous comment inhuman

Oh, get over yourself, and see below.

    > I hope that you never find yourself
    > unable to walk.

If I'm ever in that situation, I'd like to think that the powers-that-be
have made some provision for people _other_ than car drivers.

    > What the people of whom you speak do, is stay at home.

That's callous, ignorant and untrue. Shame on you, really! There are
wheelchair users who have a lot of mobility who _don't_ drive, and are
not driven around in cars. They are not all confined to their homes.

    > They are
    > housebound.

No, they're not. You're in desperate need of a clue here. I feel very
sorry for you, in a way. Because you seem to solve your own mobility
problems with driving (which I don't have a particular problem with) you
assume that everyone else does, or should. Then, when certain cities
have _one_ damn day when they decide to ban cars, you sqeak "What
happens to me?" Well, this is a figment of your imagination- I'm sure
you'd be perfectly well looked after in such a city, and you might find
that you don't need to barge around in your car all day to get around.

    > Is that what you wish for the disabled?

What I wish for the disabled is greater access to mobility in all areas.
What you assume is that, without cars, that's not possible. That's an
insanely stupid, blinkered, and myopic view of the situation. Can't say
I'm suprised _you_ take it, though.

David

--
David Horne- www.davidhorne.co.uk
davidhorne (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk

The Reid

Following up to David Horne

    >> I hope that you never find yourself
    >> unable to walk.
    >If I'm ever in that situation, I'd like to think that the powers-that-be
    >have made some provision for people _other_ than car drivers.

why cant we have provision for both? Why do we have to have
anti-car lobbies, why not just pro transport?
--
Mike Reid
"Art is the lie that reveals the truth" P.Picasso
UK walking "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" <-- you can email us@ this site
Spain,cuisines and walking "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" <-- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap