SOFIA DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION was founded as non-profit organization with the decision 348
of the Sofia Municipal Council to work for the sustainable development of the capital.
THE INDONESIAN CITY OF SEMARANG WILL BE ON A STUDY VISIT TO SOFIA IN THE FIELD OF SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE EUROPEAN PROGRAMME IURC
The International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) programme, an initiative funded by the European Union, is organising a study visit to Sofia for representatives of the city of Semarang City, Indonesia, from 13 to 15 March 2023. The visiting delegation also includes representatives of Association of Indonesian Municipalities (APEKSI). The visit aims to promote cooperation between the two cities in the field of sustainable urban mobility. Previously, the Sofia visited Semarang City in June 2022.
The Indonesian city is interested in how to develop its public transport system, especially the tram transport which is considering to introduce, as well as in best practices of Sofia, such as charging facilities in public transport, the SofiaCoin mobile app created under the INOAIR project, measures to improve air quality, initiatives to encourage more citizens to use public transport.
The programme includes meetings with Mr. Barbalov, Deputy Mayor for Transport, representatives of Sofia Municipality, Sofia Electric Transport, Urban Mobility Centre, Sofia Development Association and other stakeholders and will include a number of visits to mobility related sights.
Sofia, one of the 100 European cities aiming to be climate-neutral by 2030, will share its experiences, achievements and challenges, innovations it is testing for the first time on a European scale, such as on-demand transport under the INOAIR project, and discuss opportunities for continued cooperation in the field of mobility with the forth most populous country with a rapidly growing economy.
About IURC
Funded by the European Union, the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) programme promotes cooperation between cities on sustainable urban development and builds partnerships between EU and non-EU cities. Participating local governments are enabled to implement pilot projects engaging research, civil society and business partners. IURC contributes to the objectives of the UN New Urban Agenda, the Agenda 2030 (SDGs), the Urban Agenda for the EU and the European Commission’s priorities for a “Stronger Europe in the World” with the European Green Deal and the NextGenerationEU (post COVID-19 recovery plan). IURC is implemented in nine countries in Asia and Australasia: Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Thailand, and Vietnam. In Bulgaria, IURC is pairing the Bulgaria’s capital Sofia with the two Asian cities, namely Sejong of Republic of Korea and Semarang City of Indonesia.
Wesbite: https://www.iurc.eu/
ANOTHER INFO DAY ABOUT THE NEW PUBLIC ON DEMAND TRANSPORTATION SERVICE IN SOFIA WAS HELD THIS WEEKEND
During the weekend, another information meeting was held with the citizens of the "Manastirski livadi - West" district, which aimed to further explain to the residents of the area the pros and details surrounding the launch of the public on demand transportation service - a pilot project for the city of Sofia. The innovative concept, which is currently being implemented in the capital, is part of the Innoair project.
The information meeting started with a tour of the neighborhood with one of the electric minibuses, that are part of the service, in which the citizens who came were also able to get on and see exactly how the system will work. They learned about the taxation methods, how they can signal to the driver that they want to get off the vehicle at a location of their choice, and where all the drop-off and pick-up points will be.
After the tour, the residents of the neighborhood held a more in-depth discussion with the representatives of the civil organization "Manastirski livadi - West", the deputy mayor of Sofia Municipality Doncho Barbalov, and the head of Sofia’s "Transport" Directorate Ivan Nikolov, who answered their questions about the service.
The attendees were also able to get acquainted with the BUSINN mobile app, through which they will be able to order a minibus to pick them up, see the movement of the minibuses in real time and check for a nearby drop-off or pick-up point.
BUSINN is now available for download from the App Store and Google Play.
INNOAIR project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the Urban Innovative Actions Initiative. This is the first Bulgarian project selected for funding by UIA.
INFORMATIONAL MEETING ON THE INNOAIR PROJECT IN THE MANASTIRSKI DISTRICT WILL BE HELD THIS WEEKEND
On 12th February at 12:00 PM in the Mur green space in the Manastirski livadi district, an information day will be held with representatives of Sofia Municipality, at which the final project for the on-demand transport under the INNOAIR project will be presented.
The meeting will be attended by the new head of the INNOAIR project Doncho Barbalov - Deputy Mayor for Finance and Health and Acting Deputy Mayor for Transport and Urban Mobility and Ivan Nikolov - Director of the Transport Devision of Sofia Municipality. Within the framework of the meeting, the communication of the project will also be discussed for its maximum promotion.
For more information, follow the Facebook event: HERE
INNOAIR project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the Urban Innovative Actions Initiative. This is the first Bulgarian project selected for funding by UIA.
THE SOFIACOIN APP IS GIVING AWAY THEATER TICKETS AND A BRAND NEW TABLET TO ITS USERS
The active lifestyle app SofiaCoin is announcing new exciting prizes for its users, including tickets to performances in Sofia’s leading theaters and a brand new modern tablet.
SofiaCoin is the result of joint efforts in the framework of the INNOAIR project. The app allows users to earn various rewards based on the distance they walk or cycle in the city of Sofia.
The more kilometers app users travel on foot or by a bicycle, the closer they are to the opportunity to win one of the prizes waiting for them in SofiaCoin. Theater tickets are provided by leading metropolitan theaters, including the "Vazrazhdane" Theater and the "Behind the Canal" Small City Theater. If anyone wants to get two tickets to some of the most interesting productions on the city’s stages, they need to install the SofiaCoin app on their smartphone and be among the first to walk 120 kilometers with it. After reaching the goal, the user must claim his or her reward if they are among the first to cover that distance.
Sofia Development Association, an INNOAIR project partner, also wants to surprise SofiaCoin users by giving away a brand new Lenovo tablet to the first app subscriber who manages to walk or run 250 kilometers and claim their prize.
You can download the Sofia Coin app for Android from HERE or for iOS from HERE.
In 2023 SofiaCoin will offer even more rewards and interesting opportunities. Through the INNOAIR project, which is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the Urban Innovative Actions Initiative, Sofia is taking ambitious steps towards electrifying and expanding public transport options and fighting air pollution in the territory of the capital. You can read more about the project here.
INNOAIR project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the Urban Innovative Actions Initiative.
SOFIA DESIGNS THE INNOVATIVE ON-DEMAND TRANSPORT TOGETHER WITH MANASTIRKSI LIVADI RESIDENTS
Sofia municipality, Sofia Development Association, Sofia Urban Mobility Center, Modeshift Europe ltd., together with community association “United for Manastirski Livadi – West” oranized an information day to present the new electric minibuses and the on-demand service in the Manastirski Livadi neighbouthood.
The information day was held at the weekend, om December 3rd, 2022, to allow maximum citizens to get involved. Along one of the major streets, Mur Street, by the kids’ playground, the INNOAIR team put boards with maps of the neighbourhood, workshop materials and snacks and refreshments on the chill morning. The aim was to develop – together with the citizens – potential on-demand bus routes and more importantly – points of interest where citizens would like to get to, as well as preferred time zones for their travel.
The citizens were invited to try the mobile application BUSINN, to see how it works for the driver and for the dispatch back office. The app is based on AI calculating optimum routes to service maximum users and create minimum traffic and waiting times.
One of the e-minibuses was available for the residents to see, get to know its features – from Wi-Fi and power outlets to low floors and a ramp for wheelchairs and pushchairs. The last amenity is of particular importance to the residents since many of them have young children.
Many residents took a ride in the minibus in the neighbourhood and their experience was very positive.
The residents proposed measures how to make this innovative transport service more popular. They were also interested in the tariff and the use of public transport monthly and year cards. Around 20 residents of Manastirski Livadi volunteered to be test users of the app and bus in the coming days and provide feedback on features like ordering, waiting times, routes, etc.
INNOAIR project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the Urban Innovative Actions Initiative.
INNOAIR – INSPIRATION FOR THE NEW EUI APPLICANTS
After the European Urban Initiative (EUI) announced its first call for proposals with a budget of 50 million to support the New European Bauhaus demonstrators, the Permanent Secretariat organized several information days, one of which was held in Sofia on November 29-30, 2022. The event brought together representatives of DG Regio, Bulgarian and other cities, universities, NGOs, business companies, interested in having their questions answered about funding, project management, innovative solutions.
The event was opened with a welcome address by Kristian Krastev, Sofia deputy mayor on transport and manager of INNOAIR project. As the first and only Bulgarian project supported by the EUI predecessor – Urban Innovative Actions - INNOAIR was invited to share its experience. Sevdalina Voynova briefly presented the project and focused on the lessons learned and what the applicant may expect developing and implementing an innovative project. The other members of the INNOAIR team were also in attendance, directly sharing inspiration and encouragement with the interested future applicants.
The event offered thematic sessions, Q&A, one-to-one consultations with the Permanent Secretariat, networking, and numerous examples how to make our cities better with innovative actions.
INNOAIR is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Urban Innovative Actions Initiative.