Vehicular traffic once dominated Ljubljana. “The city centre used to be packed with cars and buses,” says the Ljubljana European Green Capital 2016 report. “Today it is reserved for cyclists and pedestrians.”
About 30 seconds into our trip, an elderly man holding a crutch and some shopping bags hails our vehicle at The Triple Bridge which connects the medieval town with the modern city. He sits in and starts chatting with Vidovic. Vidovic says the kavalirs were initially intended for older people “and people with disabilities and parents with little children. Then we spread it to everyone.” You still get the impression that it’s mostly older people who use them though.
Bodan Vidovic: 'It was just the mayor’s idea to have something for the old people.' Photograph: Dan Griffin Last month Ljubljana, a city of 300,000, was the only capital to be shortlisted for the European Commission’s 2023 Access Award for cities which have prioritised accessibility for people with disabilities. Mayor Janković has been re-elected twice.
Wow what a great idea!