The European Commission, as part of European Mobility Week 2018, marked the importance of getting around safely with a “Cycling Safely Workshop” for Grade 5 primary school students at the Traffic Education Park in Nicosia on 27 September, in collaboration with the Prevention of Road Traffic Accidents Association (TKÖD). 

The aim of the workshop was to promote safe and alternative modes of transport in a safety controlled environment, where the students had the opportunity to ride the obstacle course and were provided with tips on safe cycling including sudden breaking, assessing traffic situations, blind spots, safety gear and bike maintenance.

As part of the EU Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community, €2.7 million was allocated to improve road safety since in 2009. Since the number of accidents and deaths per million km driven in the Turkish Cypriot community is one of the highest in Europe, the programme focused on long-term sustainable impact. It created a coherent structure encompassing all organisations involved in traffic safety, to boost efficiency and effectiveness. In addition, it also provided planning to help local communities address current and future mobility needs, including the elimination of three black spots by remodelling and re-signalling hazardous road sections.