'Car Free' Day in Athens on Saturday

[Ellinas]

Athens will observe the "European Car-Free" day on Saturday, which means that people wanting to go to the city's centre will have to do so without their vehicles.

On the other hand, all public transport will be free of charge throughout the day as part of Greece's participation in European Mobility Week, by order of new Transport Minister Kostis Hatzidakis.

The aim is to improve the public's attitudes and behaviour in terms of their daily travel needs and cut down traffic congestion by promoting the use of public transport.

The City of Athens, for the first time, and in cooperation with the ministry of transport, the Technical Chamber of Greece, the Hellenic Institute of Transportation Engineers, the Centre for Renewable Energy Sources and the municipality's Road Safety Organisation, invites all Athens residents to participate in a series of events at Kotzia Square on Saturday to mark the culmination of European Mobility Week 2007, which is marked by events in 1,300 European cities.

ANA