Author(s)

M. Myllylä & N. Karasmaa

Abstract

Promoting pedestrian and bicycle traffic in the Põlva region is an exemplary project in Estonia. The project is financed by the EU. A report of the initial stages of the project was completed at the end of 2005. The main planning target is a region-wide and multifunctional walking and cycling network. The project work was started in 2005. As the EU project in Põlva is intended to serve as a model for other towns and municipalities in Estonia, a manual titled \“Planning pedestrian and bicycle traffic network in Municipalities” was issued, based on Finland’s expertise and experience. No other similar manuals to our knowledge have been issued in Europe. The Põlva project is also a matching example of Finnish-Estonian cooperation. Keywords: Finnish-Estonian cooperation, planning manual, sustainable traffic, walking and cycling network, pedestrian traffic. 1 Background of the project In 2001, the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications launched a three-year project called Jaloin / by Foot for promoting pedestrian and bicycle traffic in Finland. The project was largely national; however it also included cooperation with various target groups as well as model action in municipalities. Among those a model action plan for sustainable traffic was applied in three municipalities and an urban district. The purpose of model action was to test environmentally sustainable and people friendly traffic solutions and to apply the principles of such model action in other locations. The technical services board of Põlva town observed such model action in municipalities on their visit in Finland in autumn 2002. As a result of their visit, Põlva town and municipality launched a walking and cycling project financed by

Keywords

Finnish-Estonian cooperation, planning manual, sustainable traffic, walking and cycling network, pedestrian traffic.