During the recent National Coordinator’s meeting in Prague, EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK had the chance to sit down with Kateřina Machová Ondřejová and Blanka Klimešová from the organisation Pěšky městem. The initiative was recognised with the 2024 MOBILITYACTION Award for its "Walk to School" challenge, encouraging active mobility for children across the Czech Republic on their trips to school.

In this interview, they share insights into how the challenge works, the impact it has had on local communities, and the strategies they use to promote safe, enjoyable, and sustainable mobility for children.

Congratulations on winning the MOBILITY ACTION Award! Could you briefly introduce Pěšky městem and explain what inspired the initiative?

Blanka: Our organisation is dedicated to supporting pedestrians and giving a voice to groups that often remain unheard - particularly children and seniors. We want cities where everyone can move safely and independently. Much of our work focuses on strengthening communities and helping improve communication between residents, schools and public authorities.

A large part of our mission centres on children, because we see how little time they spend outdoors today. We want them to feel confident in the city, able to move around without fear, and included in public space. For that reason, we partner closely with schools, helping them improve safety around their buildings and making the surrounding areas calmer, more pleasant and more liveable. Sometimes this involves infrastructure proposals; other times it’s about education and encouraging active mobility.

Kateřina: One of our main initiatives is the "Walk to School" challenge and we are especially proud to have received this recognition from EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK for our efforts. We launched it in 2017 as a motivational effort to encourage active journeys to school. It has grown enormously - more than 500 schools now participate - and their creativity and enthusiasm really elevate the project.

Our work engages children, their parents, teachers and the wider community. Walking has so many benefits: physical health, mental health, environmental impact and stronger social connections. The challenge helps people, particularly parents and teachers, see those benefits in practice. It also includes a creative and educational dimension: children prepare small projects on mobility and public space and even communicate with authorities and police, learning how to engage with decision-makers and advocate for change.

What has been the impact of your initiatives on local communities? Have you noticed changes in behaviour or attitudes toward walking and sustainable travel?

Blanka: One of the biggest impacts is simply bringing these issues into public conversation. The safety of children and the value of active mobility are being discussed more openly. We’ve seen a shift away from the idea that children alone are responsible for staying safe through wearing visibility vests or taking other precautions. Instead, people are starting to acknowledge that driver behaviour and street design play a central role.

Kateřina: Many parents were used to a very car-oriented routine around schools. When we highlight the needs of children - how they move and what helps them feel secure - it changes perspectives. They begin to see that walking to school is not as risky or complicated as they once assumed. In fact, they often realise children enjoy it. We’ve heard from many parents who tried walking during the challenge and continued because the experience was better than they expected. These may be small steps, but they lead to long-term change. Around many participating schools, we’ve already seen slight shifts in how people travel.

Many challenge participants work with limited resources. What advice would you offer to other cities or organisations hoping to start a similar initiative?

Blanka: The most important thing is to build on the needs that already exist. Schools have been observing these problems for years. They see on a daily basis how children are affected by traffic and unsafe surroundings. The desire for improvement is already there; what we do is amplify their voice and provide structure. Being part of a national movement also helps schools feel they are not alone in their efforts.

Kateřina: We try to equip schools with practical tools. We provide educational materials for parents and teachers, worksheets and guidance on activities that can be done on different budgets. But honestly, what makes the challenge successful is the energy and enthusiasm of the schools themselves. When they embrace the project creatively, it becomes a true community movement.

Engaging the local community in mobility initiatives can be challenging. How do you involve people and encourage them to participate?

Blanka: Changing mobility habits is extremely difficult. Car use is a strong habit - almost like a form of addiction. To shift behaviour, people need positive emotional experiences. We encourage schools to organise pleasant activities such as breakfast events, music performances, or community gatherings in front of the school. When people associate walking or cycling with joy, it becomes easier for them to adopt those habits and accept the work we are doing.

Kateřina: One principle we follow is staying positive. We don’t focus on frightening statistics or accident rates. Instead, we highlight the positive experiences that active mobility brings. This year, our motto was "Schools as the heart of the neighbourhood", emphasising the importance of schools as community hubs. We also use a “pedestrian diary” for children, where they can tick off animals, people or objects they notice on their way to school. It encourages mindfulness, observation skills and a stronger connection with their surroundings and nature.

What strategies have helped you demonstrate the potential of more people-friendly streets?

Kateřina: Tactical urbanism, such as our "asphalt art" outside schools, has been a powerful tool for us, with these temporary interventions highlighting what is possible. Removing a few parking spaces and adding benches or greenery can completely change how people experience a street. It’s visual, immediate and effective in sparking discussions. We want streets to be seen as not just places of movement, but also as places for meeting, playing, and living.

Blanka: Many schools have gone even further than we anticipated. They’ve installed bike racks, tested school streets, or tried new forms of traffic calming. Our main challenge now is convincing public authorities to make these changes permanent. That requires a deeper shift in mindset - seeing school surroundings as protected zones where children’s safety and quality of life come first. Encouraging that broader view is our biggest long-term challenge, but we’re fully committed to it.

Looking ahead, what are your priorities for the future of Pěšky městem?

Kateřina: Our focus is clear: safer streets and more liveable neighbourhoods. We want fewer cars around schools and more space for people. Ultimately, our dream is simple but profound - to restore children’s independence in public space. We want children to be able to walk, cycle and move around their neighbourhoods freely, confidently and without fear. If we can help cities take steady steps toward that future, then we will have succeeded.

To find out more about Pěšky městem visit their website here or follow them on their Facebook or Instagram page.

This year’s EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK saw Estonia having its most successful campaign yet, with nine cities participating. Following this, we spoke with Triinu Tirmaste and Merlin Rehema, the National Coordinators there, to learn a bit more about their activities and experiences.

In this interview, they discuss their personal journeys in mobility, share highlights from this year’s campaign and outline their priorities for expanding and improving EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK in Estonia in the years to come.

Could you tell us about your backgrounds and how you became involved in EUROPEAN MOBILITY WEEK?

Triinu: I’m originally from a small town called Viljandi. Even as a child, walking or cycling everywhere, whether to school, the store, or sports practice, was completely normal for me. When I moved to Tallinn for university, I noticed that many people preferred cars, which made me curious about transport habits. I studied logistics and transport planning, focusing on sustainable mobility later in my studies, and then worked for seven years as a public transport specialist for Tallinn City Government. Almost two years ago, I joined the Ministry of Climate, which allows me to look at mobility from a national and European perspective. Coordinating EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK has been one of the most inspiring parts of my work.

Merlin: I’m from Tartu, another city where walking was part of everyday life. My background is in environmental protection and urban management, focusing on liveable cities and sustainable mobility. I’ve been involved in mobility studies and urban planning for over a decade. Before joining the Ministry this year, I participated in EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK activities from the city level, which gave me great insight into how the campaign works on the ground. Being able to coordinate nationally is exciting because it bridges local and national efforts, creating a real feedback loop.

You share the role of national coordinators - how does this partnership work in practice?

Triinu: I see many advantages. I like to discuss ideas before taking action, and having Merlin alongside me doubles the ideas and perspectives we bring.

Merlin: Exactly. Our slightly different backgrounds give us different strengths. It means we can cover more ground, divide responsibilities during busy periods and ensure there’s always someone available to focus on EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK. It’s a really complementary partnership.

How would you reflect on this year’s campaign in Estonia? Were there any highlights?

Triinu: It was a fantastic year. We had nine participating municipalities, which is a new record. Tartu and Pärnu stood out for planning full weeks of activities. Tartu included walking tours with cultural elements, while Pärnu focused on children - engaging schools directly. A real highlight for me was the small municipality of Tapa. They organised activities for every school and kindergarten in the area, from helmet checks to traffic and railway safety lessons, and even bicycle rides. Their initiative was completely self-driven, showing that even small towns can have a big impact.

Merlin: It was inspiring to see cities take ownership. Even without much direct guidance from us, local coordinators were motivated and creative. This shows the importance of having passionate individuals in the right roles. One motivated person can really drive engagement across a city or municipality.

How do you engage cities and municipalities to participate, and are there differences between larger and smaller places?

Triinu: Each spring we host an online information session, inviting all municipalities to join. After that, we stay in touch with those who express interest. Often, participation starts simply with willingness and then enthusiasm grows from there.

Merlin: In smaller municipalities, first-time participants may start cautiously with just one or two activities, which is fine. Larger cities sometimes struggle with complex activities, like car-free days. But overall, motivation and resource allocation matter more than size. The right people in the right positions can make participation happen, regardless of city size.

Mobility Week 2025’s theme was ‘Mobility for Everyone.’ How was this reflected in activities across Estonia?

Triinu: While not all municipalities explicitly communicated the theme, many activities naturally aligned with it. Some offered free public transport during EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK or a Car-Free Day, and others implemented shared space solutions.

Merlin: The concept of ‘Mobility for Everyone’, at least within Estonia, is still relatively new. Activities often focused on children, one of the most important user groups. Even simple initiatives can demonstrate inclusivity, and many cities approached it in ways that improved mobility options for all residents.

Looking ahead, what are your priorities and goals for next year’s Mobility Week in Estonia?

Triinu: Our main goal is to involve even more municipalities and organisations, aiming to reach at least ten participants next year.

Merlin: I’d like to focus on including smaller and more remote municipalities. Simple, easy-to-implement activities can still make a big difference and we want to help municipalities showcase improvements made throughout the year, such as new cycling lanes or public transport adjustments. EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK doesn’t have to be about large-scale events and activities - small, thoughtful actions can also have a lasting impact.

Triinu Tirmaste and Merlin Rehema work for Estonia’s Ministry of Climate, where they focus on sustainable mobility and urban planning. Triinu has been the EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK National Coordinator for Estonia since 2023, while Merlin started in this role earlier this year.

Learn more about EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK in Estonia on the national website, here.