BELGRADE – What better way to talk about Mobility for All than to get on a bicycle and experience it together?
European Mobility Week 2026 opened in Serbia with a shared ride through Belgrade, bringing together EU representatives, partners, cyclists and pupils around this year’s theme, “Mobility for Everyone”. From Europe House Belgrade, where the campaign was officially launched, the group set off towards Drinka Pavlović Primary School, turning the campaign’s message into a shared journey focused on safe, inclusive and sustainable mobility.
“Mobility is not only about roads or bicycles. It is about opportunity, independence and dignity for every citizen; for a child cycling or walking to school, for an older person staying active and connected, for a person with a disability moving safely and freely through their city. Smart and sustainable mobility, along with good connectivity, are essential for building inclusive and proactive communities. The European Union is proudly supporting these objectives through the European Mobility Week across Serbia”, said Julian Vassallo, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia
“European Mobility Week reminds us that mobility must work for everyone – children, older people, persons with disabilities and everyone who cannot rely on a private car. Cleaner buses, reliable and accessible public transport, safe cycling routes and better walking conditions mean cleaner air, safer streets and easier access to schools, jobs and services. Through our activities, the Transport Community is helping authorities in designing cities around people – with public transport, walking, cycling, accessibility and cleaner vehicles forming part of one integrated system,” said Tālis Linkaits, Director of the Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community.
“Smarter, greener mobility can transform how we live, work and connect, and unlock new economic opportunities. With more than EUR 3.6 billion invested in Serbia’s transport sector, the EIB is helping modernise railways, roads and waterways, while aiming to support the development of cleaner, better-connected cities,” said EIB Head of Regional Hub for the Western Balkans Damien Sorrell.
Then came the ride.
Olympic cyclist Ivan Stević led the ride set off from Europe House towards Drinka Pavlović Primary School. The bicycle was more than just a means of transport. It became the connecting thread of the opening event and a reminder that mobility should be safe, sustainable and accessible to people of all ages and abilities.
At Drinka Pavlović Primary School, the programme moved from the streets to the schoolyard, where the Tour de Fun skills course was set up. Pupils took part in an interactive programme focused on traffic safety, safe routes and active mobility, bringing the campaign’s message of mobility for all directly into the school environment.
The school also received a bicycle and a safety-equipment set, including equipment that can be used in future traffic-safety lessons and school mobility activities. The handover was followed by a practical programme organised by Tour de Fun, giving pupils an opportunity to put safe cycling into practice.
Milan Petrović, a blind Serbian Paralympic cyclist, joined the accessibility and inclusion segment, sharing his personal experience of navigating traffic and public spaces without sight. Through his story and interaction with the pupils, he offered an inspiring and practical perspective on the challenges faced by blind people and the importance of making mobility safer and more accessible for everyone.
The Belgrade event marked the beginning of a wider campaign in Serbia. European Mobility Week continues in Novi Sad, Niš and Novi Pazar, with further activities in Aranđelovac and Subotica, bringing the campaign to different local environments and mobility challenges across Serbia.
European Mobility Week takes place from 16 to 22 September. Launched by the European Commission in 2002, it has grown into one of the world’s largest sustainable mobility initiatives, with more than 2,700 cities in 45 countries taking part last year.
The thematic week is organised by the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, in cooperation with the European Investment Bank, the Transport Community and the EU for Green Agenda in Serbia project, implemented by Tour de Fun. The campaign also brings together local authorities, primary schools, civil society organisations and other local partners in the cities taking part.
