Recreational and Long Distance tourist Bicycle Lanes along Sava River, Connecting Capital Cities Ljubljana, Zagreb and Belgrade

Executive Summary

Project Proposal

Sustainable community with sustainable open public spaces must reflect multiple activities wherever possible, social mixture of householders, efficient transport, energy consumption and use of materials. Open Public spaces must speak about a city that is just, beautiful, creative, ecological, cultural and part of the knowledge society, a city of easy contact, a compact and polycentric city and a city of diversity. Open public spaces in the City of Ljubljana represent the skeleton of the city. In the eighties a branch of the urban planning and design profession turned back to historic urban patterns because of a feeling of helplessness to establish and design innovative open public spaces. The effort to ensure social interactions on open public spaces through reproduction of historical forms turned out to be wrong. However the period somehow rediscovered open public spaces and indirectly influenced the revitalisation of streets and squares. The important role in this process played the civic society movement from the field of culture that brings cultural events to the old city centre with the help of the city establishment. In the last years a series of street redesigns were implemented with appropriate urban and traffic program. Redesigns were done mostly in the old city centre and with renovation projects upgraded the urban program, achieved new, more profound images with more appropriate traffic arrangements. The old city centre totally changed its impression, character, and meaning in the broader context of the city as the cultural, historical, emotional and social centre of Ljubljana. The public life on the streets is still one of the most important values in the evaluation of quality of life in urban environment.

However, there is still a lack of green open public spaces in the City of Ljubljana for recreational purpose. Green open public spaces, especially water fronts along the rivers, represent the added value for the sustainable development and for the health of residents. The Sava River in its way through the municipality of the capital city forms a large potential for recreational and tourist purposes.

The short presentation of the project start up activities of the improvement of the river bank of Sava (between Tacen sport centre and Snebrje) for recreation and sport will be made by the City of Ljubljana, Department of Sport. Start up activities for improving the current situation of more or less informal use of Sava River bank for recreational purpose are made locally by introducing the project into the budget. This locally oriented project is focused to connect existing public sport infrastructure through recreational paths (walking, running/jogging, and cycling). The city of Ljubljana is coming with open proposition to start a large scale transnational project of recreational and long distance tourist bicycle lanes connecting the capital cities Ljubljana, Zagreb, and Belgrade. The presentation of the current activities for improving the water front of Sava River will be presented to encourage the project proposal and the invitation for the future partners will be made.

Brief introduction:

Open Public spaces redesigns were done mostly in the old city centre and with renovation projects upgraded the urban program, achieved new, more profound images with more appropriate traffic arrangements.

However it is still a lack of green open public spaces in the City of Ljubljana for recreational purpose. The Sava River in its way through the capital city forms a large potential for recreational and tourist purpose. Well designed and managed green open public spaces especially water fronts along the rivers could represent the value added for the sustainable development.

The Sava River water front is currently not showing the actual potential. Problems are mostly connected to the lack of management and control over the area. The poor accessibility and informal usage for the recreation are the current practise. Informal picnic places, informal walking and jogging paths are showing the attractiveness of the area no mater of low public service. The existing sport centres near the river are under designed and the management is poor. Exception is recently built modern sports park with the stadium and multifunctional building (basketball etc.). The park is close to the Sava River and close to the city road ring junction.

The city wants to improve the river bank of Sava on its territory (between Tacen sport centre and Snebrje) Department of Sport is starting activities for improving the current situation of more or les informal use of Sava River bank for recreational purpose by introducing the project into the budged. This locally oriented project is focused in connecting existing public sports infrastructure through recreational paths (walking, running/jogging, leisure and cycling).

With this effort the city wants to contribute largely to the region and motivate cities, towns and other local communities along the Sava River to join in sustainable management of the river front. The city of Ljubljana is coming with open proposition to start a large scale transnational project of recreational and long distance tourist bicycle lanes connecting the capital cities Ljubljana, Zagreb and Belgrade.

Research part of the project could be focused on the positive environmental impacts of the project to the broader region. The other focus could be on research of the appropriate approach in connecting all numerous partners. Sustainable management and appropriate organisational structure will be the biggest challenge in this transnational project. The project of Ljubljanica River revival and redesign could be used as example and a good practise.

Justification of the topic and focus:

Sustainable development must be a common decision and open public spaces are one of the most democratic places for building culture of dialogue. Culture of dialogue is essential for the future changes toward sustainable development. Open public spaces could play a vital role in rising of sustainable culture (information, awareness, dialogue, co-operation, participation, and lifestyle). Green open public spaces especially water fronts along the rivers represent good oportunity for the sustainable development. Sustainable approach could influence positively on transnational cooperation in the region. It could improve the understanding of sustainable principles of urban planning, transport and tourism. The focus will be the integrative approach and sustainable development of the river fronts (OPS).

Purpose and objectives:

The purpose of the project is to start the integrated management of the Sava river front focused on sustainable tourism and transport. This can contribute to implementation of the international conventions on Danube and Sava River. Sustainable approach could influence positively on:

-transnational cooperation and understanding of sustainable principles

-local redesign and sustainable management of open public spaces (water fronts)

-Sustainable transport promotion

-introducing the new common tourist destination

Target groups and the methodology:

Target groups are the Cities, experts and local communities.

City institutions of Ljubljana, Zagreb and Belgrade

National tourist boards, cities tourist boards and local tourist organizations

Urban planning institutes and top institutions for spatial planning and environment

Municipalities and local communities along Sava River

Ministries on the scope spatial planning and environment

Methodology is to be separated between planning and implementation activities

General public (recreation, sport, education)

Stages:

Recreational and long distance tourist bicycle Lanes along Sava River, between thethree capital cities is a large scale project. The duration is currently difficult to define. It is expected that the draft plan could be prepared in three years. Draft stages are divided on planning and implementation:

Letter of intend of the three cities (and the states)

Budget setting and application on eligible programs and founds

Draft plan of the whole area

Separate draft plans of Ljubljana (Slovenia), Zagreb (Croatia) and Belgrade (Serbia)

Separate draft plans of the local communities in between the three cities

Implementation of several parts separately according to financial resources

Proposed partner institution of the project and other partner institutions:

Lead partner institution: The city of Ljubljana or the common body of all three capital cities

Core partners: Ministry of environment and spatial planning (international conventions)

UIRS-urban planning and environment

ICPE, ECPD-sustainable development

Municipalities and other local communities

Open search for partners that have not been identified yet-sustainable management

Expected results:

-Improvements of tourist and recreational infrastructure of partner cities and Local communities

-Introduction of regional (Central and SE Europe) tourist destination

-Promotion of sustainable principles and sustainable traffic

-Cross border cooperation between EU member state and future member states

Proposed programs and eligibility to found:

SE Europe, Central Europe, Cross border initiatives, UN programmes