NEWS

Panevėžys City Municipality is implementing the pilot project "Space4People" of European Territorial Cooperation Programme URBACT and aims to increase the attractiveness of public spaces. This project examines the challenges associated with the use of public space in cities. The project aims to share good practices and promote the accessibility of public transport, the vitality of quality public space, accessibility for various user groups. It will create visions of the future by testing possible public space solutions. The ability to enjoy the city's public spaces in different ways makes it vibrant and attractive, and quality becomes part of a sustainable city.

"While implementing the “Space4People” project, we decided to pay special attention to mothers with small children. Small children are very mobile and curious, so in order to divert the attention of the little ones from the central city street, we decided to purchase a children's sensory wall. While waiting for the arriving public transport, the little residents of Panevėžys will be able to have fun at the wall. In addition, this will not only ensure safety, but also knowing that small children are impatient, they will not have to wait long for the bus," says Tomas Jukna, Director of the Administration of Panevėžys City Municipality.

The children's sensory wall is built in the central part of the city at the bus stop by the Music School. This is not the first small-scale initiative carried out by the Municipality in order to make the city more attractive and convenient for its residents.

We would like to remind that during the implementation of the "Space4for People" project, an integrated action plan was made. It provides an opportunity to respond to the challenges of city management and development policy. Taking into account the fact that the services of the Panevėžys Public Hospital and the Consultation Polyclinic are used by many people every day and in order to ensure the smooth access of residents to these institutions, a new bus service route Nr. 1E "Kniaudiškiu g. - Consultation Polyclinic" was introduced. In order to find out the opinion of the residents of Panevėžys, how they value this new public transport route, a survey was organized. 181 respondents submitted their answers. 94 percent of those who spoke said that this route is necessary for the people of Panevėžys, 3 percent think the opposite. 76 percent think that this new bus route will encourage residents to choose public transport more often. The residents of Panevėžys who participated in the survey were happy that this route was very convenient and was welcomed not only by the doctors working in this part of the city but also by the residents of Panevėžys, who use their services. It is proposed to use as many ecological vehicles as possible in the city, to increase the number of new routes. There is a plan to draw up a schedule according to which buses traveling the new route Nr.1 E would run more often.

The URBACT program supports the sustainable integrated development of European cities, allocates funds for the creation of cooperation networks, exchange of experience, plays an important role in strengthening urban connections, exchanging good practices and finding innovative solutions.