European Mobility Week 2026: Fewer Cars, More Neighbourhood Life

European Mobility Week (EMW) is the European Commission’s flagship campaign to raise awareness of sustainable urban mobility. It takes place every year from 16 to 22 September, encouraging cities to promote greener transport options and culminating in the popular Car-Free Day. Since it was launched in 2002, the initiative has grown to include more than 2,700 towns and cities in over 40 countries.

The campaign’s roots go back to the late 1990s. In 1998, France launched Car-Free Day (In Town, Without My Car!), an initiative designed to show how cities can function with fewer cars. In 2000, the initiative was adopted and supported by the European Commission. Two years later, the European Commission brought Car-Free Day together with other activities promoting sustainable transport, creating European Mobility Week, which has taken place every year ever since.

The main aim is not to persuade people to stop driving, but to show that cities can offer a wider range of transport options. The campaign promotes:

• safe walking;
• cycling;
• high-quality public transport;
• shared mobility;
• better use of public space;
• reducing noise, emissions and traffic congestion.

How big is it?

Thousands of towns and cities from dozens of countries take part in the campaign every year. In recent years, more than 2,700 towns and cities from around 45–50 countries have participated, not only from the European Union but also from other European countries.

This year’s European Mobility Week theme is “Mobility for Everyone”, with a particular focus on intergenerational fairness. Children, young people, adults and older people have different needs when getting around cities and face different barriers. The campaign therefore encourages cities to create transport systems and public spaces that are accessible, safe and welcoming for all generations – both present and future.

European Mobility Week in Czechia

In Czechia, the campaign is coordinated by the national European Mobility Week team. Every year, dozens of towns and cities take part, organising bike rides, guided walks, open-street events, road-safety competitions and activities for schools. Many also use the week to showcase new projects for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport.

To mark the occasion, the AutoMat association is holding the 21st edition of Zažít město jinak, a neighbourhood festival built around the same idea: showing how public space can work when, for a while, it becomes a place for people rather than primarily for cars.

AutoMat is also organising the ninth edition of the September Challenge – Do práce na kole, pěšky či poklusem (Bike, Walk or Jog to Work) – as well as an educational bike ride through Prague 3.

AutoMat’s educational programme

On Saturday 19 September, you can also meet AutoMat’s education team as part of Zažít město jinak, in Čimice from 10am. There will be fun activities from our interactive Zachraň město educational kit for children, young people and the whole family. No registration is required – just arrive at OC Draháň before 10am. The walk will take around 45 minutes. Participants can look forward to transport experiments and exploring public space. We look forward to seeing you there.

Join us in Hradec Králové and Otrokovice

European Mobility Week kicks off in Hradec Králové on 16 September with a scooter ride with Kostka, followed by events including a discussion titled What’s Life Like in Hradec Králové Without a Car?, Saturday’s Zažít město jinak neighbourhood festival and Sunday’s Živá Labská stezka, a cycle ride from Hradec Králové all the way to Žireč.

The highlight of the programme will be European Car-Free Day on Tylovo nábřeží on Tuesday 22 September, when part of the embankment will be closed to motor traffic for the whole day. In place of cars, the space will be filled with activities for children and adults, bike and scooter hire, safe-transport demonstrations, workshops, an electric bus, a Fruit Bike, a parkour show and a concert by Mammas & Peppas. Driving licence holders will also be able to use Hradec Králové’s public transport free of charge all day. Find out more.

On Thursday 17 September, Otrokovice will be all about getting around by bike and scooter. From 5am to 8am, a free breakfast for cyclists and pedestrians will be served at the pavilion on the cycle path near the Trávníky housing estate. At 5pm, a roughly 10-kilometre beginner-friendly scooter ride organised with TJ Jiskra Otrokovice will set off from Sokolovna. Scooters can be reserved by calling 724 348 747. The event is part of European Mobility Week.

What are other cities planning?

In Opava, Nextbike, a partner of the city’s European Mobility Week, is offering everyone taking part in the Do práce na kole challenge a voucher for two free rides on a shared bike, each lasting up to 30 minutes. Your voucher code will be sent to you via the Do práce na kole newsletter.

On International Car-Free Day, which falls on 22 September and is part of European Mobility Week, an Olomouc bike ride will also take to the streets. Meet at 4:30pm at Čekárna Olomouc (on the platform); the ride sets off at 5pm and finishes at Náměstí Republiky. You can join by bike, on roller skates or by scooter. Don’t forget your helmet and lights, and feel free to bring a speaker to keep things lively along the way.

On Sunday 20 September, the Galasova bike ride from Prague to Mělník will also take place as part of European Mobility Week. The route will run from Folimanka Park in Nusle via Klecany, Kralupy nad Vltavou, Veltrusy and other places to Mělník, with participants returning to Prague by train. Meet at 9am in Folimanka Park; departure is at 9:15am.