Further info
Jekabpils City Council informs that on August 24, 2017, Jēkabpils City Council has adopted Resolution "Approval of the thematic plan" Development of the Jēkabpils Concept for cycling Traffic ", the approval of the terms of reference and development managment .
The purpose of the development of the concept of development of cycling is to identify the existing and ensure the future development of cycling in Jekabpils, in order to promote the balanced development of cycling as an alternative, environmentally friendly way of moving.
On August 9, in the Jekabpils Tautas nams there was a seminar organized by the Association of Latvian Bicyclists and the Latvian State Roads Association in cooperation with the Jekabpils Municipality, a seminar "CITY ENVIRONMENT AND BICYCLE TRAFFIC".
The aim of the seminar was to explain and inform about the latest global trends in the field of urban development, with a particular focus on pedestrians and cyclists. Raivis Ragainis, Chairman of Jēkabpils City Council, addressed the participants of the seminar, emphasizing the significance and development of cycling transport, as well as wishing participants of the seminar - representatives of municipalities, architects, designers, builders, as well as other interested persons to get new, valuable information and views on the development of cycling in cities. Viesturs Silenieks, Chairman of the Board of the Latvian Cycling Association, presented his insights on the growing role of cycling in the world and its impact, role in the national economy. The seminar presented good and bad examples in Latvia and in the world, as well as practical activities - cycling trips and viewing Jēkabpils infrastructure to see and analyze the current situation.
In the second part of the seminar, Aigars Šarpņicks, road construction engineer of the State Roads of Latvia, told about the practice of Latvia and abroad in designing urban infrastructure - standards, laws, regulations and practical problems, explaining the state standards for the design of bicycle traffic and their application in accordance with the Road Traffic Law and regulations. The seminar ended with a discussion about what was seen in Jekabpils. Lecturers admitted that in Jekabpils it would be necessary to develop the concept of bicycles and, at the same time, to think about the next steps to improve bicycle infrastructure.
On Jēkabpils streets, starting from June 13, an electric bus will run for one week. LTD "Jēkabpils autobusu parks" received it for pilot trips to test the new Polish-made buses on city routes. Fully charged, this bus can take 160 kilometers and charging time is only two hours. Technology goes ahead, because earlier, electric cars had to be powered by 6-8 hours and could drive 100 kilometers. In order for the factory to have an idea of how the bus works and whether the passengers and drivers like it, there will be at the end a questionnaire that will write something that may need to be improved, liked and disliked. The bus is 12 meters long, it has 30 seats and 40 parking spaces, it is also intended for the transport of people with special needs due to its low floor. As the vehicle is powered, the bus is driven from the monitor. Both the driver and the passengers are happy about the opportunity to ride this bus and express their desire to regularly ride on Jekabpils streets. However, ltd "Jēkabpils autobusu parks" does not purchase such electric buses for the time being, because they are expensive - one costs more than 300 thousand euros. The co-financing of the Cohesion Fund - EUR 1.1 million for the acquisition of environmentally-friendly vehicles by Jekabpils - could only buy three such electric buses, therefore, it is planned to buy seven natural gas buses for European Union funds. However, the company's management does not deny that in the distant future the city could also run electrics.