Budapest Best In Promoting Green Transport

The European Commission started giving out prizes to encourage eco-friendly city living. And while Hamburg and Stockholm have been announced Europe's "green capitals", Budapest won the 2008 European Mobility Week award which salutes Hungary's capital efforts to promoting and introducing green transport during the annual Mobility Week.

The awards were presented yesterday in Brussels by Janez Potočnik, who is the European commissioner for science and research. Another important figure, Michel Lebrun from the Commitee of the Regions emphasized that the prizewinners should be a role model for other cities .

Winning its prize, Budapest defeated the Portuguese city of Almada and Zagreb - the capital of Croatia. The judging panel said they chose Budapest for "raising public awareness during European Mobility Week". During the Mobility Week, Hungarian capital organized two car-free days and an exhibition of green vehicles. It also praised strolling along Danube instead of driving by it. Additionally, new bicycle lanes, park-and-ride schemes and higher parking charges were introduced in the city center. Congratulations!