EU Green Capital Valencia will host 2024 edition of European Urban Resilience Forum
Crucial aspects of resilience, sustainable development and recovery will be under the thematic spotlight
The traffic signage posts also include horses and hedgehogs, in a bid to better the welfare of all local animals
The town of Mennecy, located south of Paris, has recently installed some new road signs featuring horses, hedgehogs and cats. Whereas horse traffic signs are part of the road network in other countries as well, the inclusion of domestic felines on a sign is rather unusual.
What’s more, the triangular sign features the words “Chat en balade” (Cat taking a walk) below the outline of a black cat. And no, the authorities have stated that the signs are not meant as a joke or as a sign of warning to superstitious drivers.
The installation of the new signs has to do with the town’s policies to earn and maintain its “Animal-Friendly Town” label (Ville Amies des Animaux) for the second year in a row. The label is an initiative of the Ile-de-France region, which seeks to promote animal rights there, regardless of whether they are domestic pets, farmyard animals or wild critters.
It's a way to raise awareness among people who will react a little differently if we are talking about animals or people. If it can make it possible for people to drive more slowly, it will make for more safety and less noise pollution for everyone,” said Jean-Philippe Dugoin-Clément, vice-president of Ile-de-France Region, as quoted by 20Minutes.
However, the town of Mennecy might be unique even among the other animal-friendly towns, thanks to these new signs. The initiative to design and place them originated locally from a cat-owners association called Aux Mennechats.
Its president, Lionel Garnier, was saddened to constantly pick up dead animals on the roads and decided to do something about this issue.
As such, the road signs are free of copyright and other towns are encouraged to adopt them as a good practice.
This, however, is likely to change soon
Crucial aspects of resilience, sustainable development and recovery will be under the thematic spotlight
The island is dead set on doing something about the problem of overtourism
This is city twinning for the 21st century
You can find it in the capital Sofia, where it was installed upon the initiative of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
People in both cities got to sit together both in person and virtually
An illegal landfill will turn into a parking lot for cars confiscated by the police
It also features fast-charging stations for e-buses
Crucial aspects of resilience, sustainable development and recovery will be under the thematic spotlight
A US geologist claims to have solved the centuries-old mystery
This is the day when all madrileños take local pride in their city and culture
And the results were immediate, two Sunday services had to be performed to accommodate the crowd
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
Catch up with some recommendations for the 2024 European Capital of Culture programme from the mayor of Tartu
An interview with the ICLEI regional director for Europe аfter the close of COP28
An interview with a member of the No Hate Speech Network team