Strovolos is the second most populated municipality in Cyprus, and the largest in the district of Nicosia, with a population of approximately 80,000 inhabitants. The city is increasingly committed to improving the conditions for walking and cycling across the municipality, not least as a solution to congestion and air pollution, but also as part of regenerating public space.

Currently the city is busy working towards the development of a new Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP), together with five municipalities of the greater urban area of Nicosia District; for a holistic plan of the entire urban agglomeration; the Nicosia SUMP. The Nicosia SUMP is being developed concurrently with the National Strategic Transport Master Plan for Cyprus – which includes several mobility related proposals and has been included in the National Energy and Climate Plan submitted to the European Commission. The new SUMP foresees the provision of safe walking and cycling infrastructure, to encourage active mobility for short to medium-length trips by upgrading and completing the cycling network. The objective is to design all roads in the city centres with a functional balance between modes (including pedestrians and cyclists), to provide adequate public bike parking spaces and a well-maintained bike-sharing system. The overarching goal is to rebalance the modal share – currently at 90% for private motorised vehicles, and less than 1% walking and cycling, towards 75% private motorised vehicles, 13% public transport and 12% walking and cycling.

Pedieos Linear Park at the heart of active mobility development

Pedieos Linear Park is one of the landmarks of Strovolos urban regeneration. The park stretches across three municipalities along the Pedieos River, and currently boasts a walking and cycling path which stretches 4km. Over 14,000 trees surround the well-lit paths, with water fountains and other services installed along the way for users.

As part of the Strategic Planning for the programming period 2021-2027, the park will undergo significant upgrades in a milestone cross-municipal cooperation. With an estimated budget of €25 million, the regeneration of the Pedieos Linear Park will include measures such as the constitution of a comprehensive management plan for the river, with a focus on biodiversity and nature-based solutions, such as green corridors for wildlife and ecosystem restoration. Extensive areas will be re-planted (19 hectares equivalent to 27 football fields), and smart systems will be deployed for lighting. A total of 14 new pedestrian bridges will be built along the park, as well as bike parking facilities, while special emphasis will be placed on the connectivity of the park with the old centre of Strovolos municipality.

Images curtesy of Strovolos Municipality

New projects and higher ambitions for cycling

Strovolos Municipality aims at further developing its cycling network and connectivity of the Pedieos Linear Park. To this end, a major cycling route will be built as part of a new project for the construction of a primary road connecting the streets of Strovolou and Archangelou, and the construction of a bridge over Pedieos River on Alexandroupoleos street. The purpose of this new infrastructure is to decongest the old city centre of Strovolos, and redirect traffic away from smaller neighbourhoods which results in noise and air pollution. The new road will have pedestrian and cycling infrastructure developed alongside it, and will serve as a connecting node to the Park. The new bicycle path will also connect with Agios Dimitrios Park, the largest in the city.

Strovolos joins a network of cities and regions committed to promoting cycling as a mode of transport and leisure, collectively representing over 50 million citizens across Europe and beyond. For more information on ECF’s CRC network and how to join, visit our Cities & Regions for Cyclists page.  

For more information on Strovolos, click here.