People ride bicycles during a Car-Free Day event in Tirana, Albania, on Sept. 22, 2019. Tirana held a Car-Free Day on Sunday in the main squares and boulevard of the city joining the European Mobility Week. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)
TIRANA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Albania's capital city Tirana held a Car-Free Day on Sunday in the main squares and boulevard of the city joining the European Mobility Week with activities that promote safe walking, cycling and streets closed for traffic.
On this occasion, the municipality of Tirana organized a series of activities aimed to encourage citizens to use their bicycles as much as possible.
Through a post in the social network Twitter, Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj said that Tirana gets ready for a car-free day full of activities for children and families following Saturday's earthquake.
"While relief efforts continue, we will carry on living, helping and loving in the true spirit of this city," twitted Veliaj.
Citizens, parents and children had the opportunity to join the activities organized by the municipality in the city's "Martyrs of the Nation" boulevard and "Mother Teresa" square such as: cycling, playing tennis, chess, basketball, table tennis, practising Taekwondo.
To ensure the smooth running of the activities, the Municipality of Tirana, in cooperation with the Albanian State Police and the Municipal Police took all measures to restrict the movement of vehicles in some of the city streets.
Running from September 16-22, almost 3,000 towns and cities have joined the European Mobility Week with their activities promoting safe walking and cycling with the call to action "Walk with us." This week culminates in the well-known Car-Free Day, when streets close for traffic and open for people.
