The capital of Greece, which is home to over 650.000 inhabitants and more than 3.5 million in the Attica Metropolitan Region, is one of the most important hubs in the Eastern Mediterranean. Thanks to its frequented airport with more than 22 million passengers and the seaport of Piraeus as one of the largest Mediterranean ports, Athens is a commercial and touristic centre for two millennia. Even though heritage creates significant challenges for the construction of underground transportation systems, the city administration managed to expand its network to three metro lines of around 90km in total. Nevertheless, a significant of trips are done by passenger cars or motorcycles. In combination with a substantial amount of commuter traffic, the city has significant congestion challenges.
ROAD SAFETY SITUATION
Greece had to mourn 30.3 urban road fatalities per 1 million in 2020, which accumulates to a total of around 320 fatalities in the Hellenic Republic. Its capital Athens is the 18-most congested city in Europe, ranked according to the TomTom congestion parameters. Thus, 85h per year are lost on average due to congestion, which also has an impact on the stress level of the average driver. In order to calm traffic, 30km/h speed limits are a considered solution.
Additionally, the city administration aims to set up bicycle roads within the existing road network (mixed traffic, bike/bus lanes). Both measures are planned to be executed without infrastructure changes. Furthermore, ‘soft engineering‘ measures, such as low-emission zones or congestion charging are potential solutions that are being considered to reduce the negative externalities of passenger vehicles in the urban area of the Greek capital.
PILOT SCOPE
The focus of the Athens pilot is the road safety of vulnerable road users (VRUs). In order to measure it, profiles and example travel patterns are defined. In a second step, an analysis will place critical emphasis on VRU KPIs, such as speed measurements and modal share of pedestrians, cyclists and similar modes, such as e-scooters.
Different parameters will be taken into consideration, such as disability rate, gender or age. Scenarios will also be created for different times of the day, such as day- or night time, as well as during peak or off-peak hours.
THE ATHENS GREAT WALK
The Athens Great Walk (AGW) project aims to increase public spaces and provide more dedicated spaces for pedestrians and cycling in the historic heart of Athens. Athens Anaplasis is the responsible stakeholder for the implementation process of designed interventions. The aim is to incorporate the project result into the planning of future road infrastructure works and broader urban redevelopment initiatives, enhancing the effectiveness of its
interventions.
These will include pedestrian-friendly infrastructure (e.g reconstruction of sidewalks) and traffic-calming measures, which aligns closely with the PHOEBE project objectives.
ACHIEVEMENTS
One notable success lies in the preparatory phases, particularly in establishing robust partnerships with stakeholders such as ‘Athens Anaplasis’ and other relevant authorities. Substantial progress has been made in data collection and analysis efforts. Comprehensive datasets on traffic patterns, accident hotspots, and road user behaviours have been compiled, providing valuable insights into the root causes of road safety challenges in Athens. These insights will inform the future interventions and allow a more effective targeting of high-risk areas.
PHOEBE enhances the effectiveness of the interventions and maximises their impact on road safety outcomes, proving that the PHOEBE Framework can support cities in promoting more safe and VRU-friendly urban environments.
OUTLOOK
Planned interventions include implementing a It’s imperative that by the project’s conclusion, the planned interventions in the Athens pilot are fully implemented. Significant milestones have been achieved by forging partnerships with stakeholders and conducting thorough data collection and analysis, providing invaluable insights into road safety challenges. These insights inform the interventions, aimed at improving safety for vulnerable road users (VRUs).
Planned interventions include implementing a 30 km/h speed limit across the network, establishing an extensive network of bicycle routes, and promoting public transport modes. These interventions aim to create safer, more sustainable urban environments.
