Get ready to leave your car behind and experience the streets like never before. A vibrant neighbourhood in Nicosia is hosting a special event where residents will take over the streets on foot, bikes, and skateboards. This exciting day is part of the European Mobility Week, encouraging people to explore alternative modes of transport.
The Car-Free Day will take place this Saturday in Agioi Omologites and is being organised by local groups, including the Council for the Promotion of Cycling, the Nicosia Municipality, and the Organisation for Positive Urbanism (OPU). Their goal is to transform the narrow streets of this charming area by clearing them of cars and filling them with life, activities, and fun.
From 10am to 10pm, the event will offer a variety of activities designed for all ages. Whether it’s exploring the area on two wheels, creating art, playing games, or enjoying live music and delicious food, there will be something for everyone. The motto of the day is ‘Laou laou’, a popular Greek-Cypriot phrase that means doing things at a relaxed pace. This perfectly aligns with the event’s mission to promote slow-paced exploration and encourage people to embrace alternative ways of moving around, even if at a more leisurely speed.
A Day of Performances, Art, and Cycling
The event will feature a diverse range of activities, including street performances by local musicians, ball games, and workshops on cycling and scooter safety. Attendees can also participate in screenings and discussions on how to make neighbourhoods more people-friendly spaces. There will even be a creative workshop where participants will make bunting using recycled plastic bags to decorate the streets.
An exciting part of the day will be a live art performance, where artists will paint Next Bikes. The best design will be selected to appear on the bikes around Nicosia, raising awareness about local cycling initiatives.
Historical Neighbourhood Walk and Guided Bike Rides
In addition to the activities, a neighbourhood walk led by academic and local resident Charis Pattichis will offer a historical tour of the area. For those who prefer cycling, there will be guided bike rides through the linear park in central Nicosia, ending at Kaimakli, where the Pame Kaimakli festival will also be taking place.
It’s set to be an action-packed day with a wide variety of free activities for everyone to enjoy.
Organisers Encourage Participation
Speaking about the event’s significance, the organisers said: “Agioi Omologites is one of Nicosia’s oldest and most vibrant communities. This day provides the perfect opportunity to come together and reflect on how we want to share and shape our public spaces, not only in Agioi Omologites but in all neighbourhoods.”
They further encouraged attendees to join the fun on foot, by bike, skates, or scooter, emphasising that group rides with various pickup points will be organised to make it easier for everyone to join. For those coming from further away, peripheral parking lots will be available, allowing visitors to park their cars and experience the neighbourhood with less noise, less pollution, and more room to enjoy the space. There will also be a free electric bus service running on the day, making it easy for people to reach the event.
The organisers concluded, “As part of European Mobility Week, our goal for this car-free Saturday is to encourage people to explore alternative transportation options and see how we can make our neighbourhoods more comfortable and liveable by sharing public spaces in a different way.”
Laou Laou – Car Free Day
A vibrant urban event featuring music, art, bike rides, and community activities. Part of the European Mobility Week. Co-organised by the Council for the Promotion of Cycling, Nicosia Municipality, and the OPU Collective.
September 21, Agioi Omologites, Nicosia, 10am-11pm. Free entry.
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