The municipal authorities were suggested to build parking spaces at the entrance to Chisinau so as to avoid traffic jams on the streets of Chisinau. The future municipal sustainable transport development concept should lay emphasis on the easing of traffic, reduction in air pollution level and urban mobility. The suggestions were formulated in public consultations on the requirements for drawing up the transport development concept, IPN reports.

Chairman of the Chisinau Local Organization of the Ecologist Movement Vladimir Garaba suggested carrying out a study of the impact on the environment based on which to work out the municipal transport development concept. The local authorities are also recommended to design an air pollution map for Chisinau as such data do not exist, but are needed for a long-term transport development strategy.

Vladimir Garaba also suggested that the green areas should be taken into account in the process of developing road infrastructure in Chisinau municipality and these should also be inventoried so that they are not affected when changes are made in the road structure. Parking lots could be built at the entrance to the city, where those who come to Chisinau could leave their vehicles in order to avoid causing congestion.

Alexandru Corduneanu, of the Civic Group for Cultural Heritage, said the sustainable development of transport in Chisinau municipality should focus on urban mobility, which is first on persons and then on units of transport. All the cities in the EU work out sustainable transport strategies depending on urban mobility and the interests of citizens. Given that the Republic of Moldova aims to integrate into the EU, it would be normal to implement the EU practices and legislation.

The participants in the discussions also suggested taking into consideration the opinions of cyclists so as to build proper tracks for them as the cycle tracks existing now in parts are pseudo-tracks that endanger the lives of cyclists in traffic.