SUNRISE project improves walking conditions in a Jerusalem neighborhood

The SUNRISE project published a new video, which explains the mobility challenges of the Baka district in Jerusalem, Israel.

The citizens in the Baka neighbourhood are facing obstacles related to road safety and traffic congestions, due to the historic buildings and narrow streets. The CIVITAS SUNRISE project partner raised awareness among the local community and encouraged cooperation between different social groups in Baka. Thanks to a good relationship with the local authority, SUNRISE was able to promote a walking to school programme among other initiatives. This cooperation was successful and promoted the understanding among citizens that walkability is a civic right.

The Baka neighbourhood

The strongly diverse district has a population of more than 10.000 inhabitants. The community activity is organised under Baka’s community council which functions as a ‘mini municipality’ and includes social services, cultural activities and local communal committees that handle operational and strategic matters in the local level.

The SUNRISE project

The aim of the project is to assess, develop, implement, and facilitate co-learning about new, collaborative ways to address common urban mobility challenges at the urban district level through “neighbourhood mobility labs”.  Besides the city of Jerusalem, SUNRISE is active in neighbourhoods across Europe, including Bremen, Budapest, Jerusalem, Malmö, Thessaloniki, and Southend-on-sea. Thanks to its highly participatory “co-creation” new transport solutions for existing challenges in are developed in close cooperation with the residents.

All participating cities are strongly committed to sustainable mobility and co-creation principles. They all have city-wide mobility strategies, yet realised that large innovative potentials are untapped at the neighbourhood level. Read more about the Baka neighbourhood on the dedicated page on the SUNRISE website.