Monitoring Findings: Bitola Cycling City
In the period February-June we implement the project for monitoring pre-election promises. Following our activities with the aim of encouraging green solutions and a sustainable community, we follow the topic of building bicycle infrastructure. Attached are the activities by month: February: Survey of pre-election promisesThe survey of pre-election promises was across the online airwaves following past media releases, and politicians’ statements and offered pre-election programs. Our main challenge was that the pre-election programs were withdrawn from the internet space, and in order to find relevant material, we contacted members of the parties who are in the city council. Regarding the pre-election programs, only that of the independent group Poinaku is publicly available, and in consultation with the parties, we received the programs of the two largest coalition blocs led by VMRO-DPMNE and SDSM. March: Survey of municipal documentsThe inclusion of the topic from the pre-election promise in existing official documents of the Municipality of Bitola (programs, strategies, etc.) was perceived. The survey was conducted electronically on official municipal channels such as the municipality’s website and social media posts. Web portals were also searched that conveyed certain information about the requested data on the subject of pre-election promises. A request for access to public information was also submitted. In addition to the past, existing documents for currently planned activities in 2023 were also investigated. April: Meetings with municipal officials and councillorsMeetings and discussions were held with key municipal officials and employees in the Municipality of Bitola related to the topic of the pre-election promise. In particular, meetings were held with the Secretary of the Municipality, the Head of Local Economic Development, who is also responsible for the implementation of the bicycle path project, and a conversation with the Director of the Public Company for Urban Planning. May: Survey and public info session for the cycling lanes projectSurvey on the safety and use of the bicycle as a means of transportation and comparison of the findings of similar surveys that we did in 2015 and 2018. In order to share the attitude of the bicycle community, we have taken part at the Commission for Local Economic Development. A public info session was also held with the inclusion of all relevant stakeholders for the bicycle paths project in order to bring the latest information about the project to the public. June: Dissemination of results with the publicSharing the results with the public is through several focused announcements on social media, appearance on a regional television, live on a national television, a TV coverage from the public info session, thematic podcast, high school podcast, sharing infographics, sharing a printed brochure, and the plan is also to make cycling motivational stickers. Findings / Results*: *The links to all findings and documents are included only in the Macedonian version since they are available only in Macedonian language. Read below to learn more about this project
Monitoring: Bitola – Cycling City
Within the framework of the community mobilizers program, YMCA with the project “Bitola – Cycling City” is monitoring the fulfilment of the given pre-election promise for the realization of bicycle infrastructure in Bitola. The monitoring of the election promises of the political parties and the mobilization of the community to demand accountability and fulfil the promises is part of the project to support electoral reforms. The YMCA is involved in this project with activities that include observing the election promise for the construction of bicycle paths and infrastructure in Bitola. Within the framework of the activities, research of official announcements and documents, meetings with several stakeholders, survey research and an info session is foreseen. This initiative will monitor the election promise for the reconstruction and construction of new pedestrian and bicycle paths. Pedestrian and bicycle paths are extremely important for a municipality such as Bitola. There are a large number of people who want to recreate or walk around the city every day, but a large number of them also use bicycles or walk to reach a certain destination (work, school, etc.). By enabling special pedestrian and bicycle zones throughout the city, Bitola residents will gain many health and environmental benefits. The obtained results of the monitoring will be shared with the public through: posts on social networks, press releases and info sessions. These activities are carried out in collaboration with Strategic Management Systems (SMS) and aim to increase community engagement on issues relevant to them. “Supporting Electoral Reforms” is a project of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), implemented by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES). The list of all innovative initiatives within this project for 2022 and 2023 can be found here.
“Bike & Upcycle” Erasmus+ Youth Exchange
From 2-10 October 2022 in Bitola, N. Macedonia was held this Youth Exchange with participants from Croatia, Denmark, Bulgaria and N. Macedonia. The participants were faced with the topics of transport, environment, climate change and sustainability. They were able to get deep insights into the situations of the other countries that were partners in this exchange, which let them compare the situation with their own home country. They reflected on the similarities and differences in their urban transport realities, and they better understood the context they live in. The working methods were based on non-formal education principles. There was diverse indoor and outdoor workshops that started with introduction games, then team-building games, lectures, brainstorming activities on various related issues, study visits, movie nights and individual and group reflections. Learning by doing methodology was implemented in the outdoor settings – riding bicycles in the city, bicycles repairing, discussions and mural painting. Participants rotated in different group activities such as digital activism, bicycle repairs and artistic expression. Related articles from our website see here from MK, here from DK, and here from BG. This project was approved by our National Agency.
