Partnership between the City of Luxembourg and the European Court of Auditors
(19/04/2010)
All members of the institution's staff to receive a free "jobkaart vel'oh!"
On Friday 16 April 2010, Paul Helminger, Mayor of the City of Luxembourg, and François Bausch, Deputy Mayor with responsibility for mobility, signed an agreement with the European Court of Auditors, represented by Secretary-General Eduardo Ruiz García, in the presence of Vítor Caldeira, President of the ECA, and Henri Grethen, the Member for Luxembourg. By virtue of the agreement, a "jobkaart vel’oh!" is to be provided to all officials and other staff of the institution.
This is the first such initiative for the "vel'oh!" public bicycle-sharing network. It also marks an important step in the City of Luxembourg's cooperation with public institutions and the private sector with a view to the coordinated promotion of "soft mobility" and respect for the environment.
As Deputy Mayor with responsibility for mobility, François Bausch said: "We are particularly proud to propose this service for the first time to a European institution, and naturally we hope that other institutions and companies will follow suit. Our cooperation will enable us to increase awareness among those who work in the capital about the environmentally-friendly means of transport that are available to them, and to encourage them to make routine daily journeys by bicycle."
Under the agreement, as of this month ECA officials and other staff will be provided with a card enabling them immediately to make unlimited use of the "vel'oh!" network for journeys within the City of Luxembourg.
"This excellent initiative follows on from a decision that the Court took on behalf of its staff in 2009, which was to provide the "jobkaart" free of charge in order to allow unrestricted access to public transport in the capital," said ECA Secretary-General Eduardo Ruiz García.
The "jobkaart vel’oh!" was born of the wish to reduce traffic density in town, especially at rush-hour. It is therefore an extension of the "soft mobility" campaign, and in particular the "jobkaart", which was introduced in 2007 and can be used on all Luxembourg City bus services. Mayor Paul Helminger added: "These two initiatives in favour of bus and bicycle use are helping to create a healthier and more agreeable urban environment for both residents and visitors. The interest shown by the European Court of Auditors is also evidence that companies are increasingly socially aware and wish to express their support for environmental action in public institutions and the private sector."
Annexes: Photos of the signing of the "jobkaart vel’oh!" agreement (from left to right: Mr. Vítor Caldeira, Mr. François Bausch, Mr. Eduardo Ruiz García, Mr. Paul Helminger, Mr. Henri Grethen)
Photo: Charles Soubry; Copyright: Photothèque de la Ville de Luxembourg
