Simp and Island Particularities

Sustainable Island Mobility Plans (SIMPs): What they are and why Greek islands need them

THE FRAMEWORK There are more than one hundred twenty inhabited islands in Greece, the majority of which have an inestimable ecological and archaeological value of global significance. Nevertheless, the present model of development (massive tourism, extensive construction, abandonment of agriculture etc.) combined with the scarcity of resources (energy, water, human capital) is seriously threatening their fragile ecosystems and social cohesion.

Therefore, in times of fighting against climate change, islands are in the frontline, more than ever before, being the first ones expected to experience its devastating impacts to their local environment and economy.

The last years, sustainability is one of the top priorities of the islands local authorities’ agendas. Specifically, islands are very often considered laboratories of technological innovation with the most representative examples laying in the fields of societal infrastructures (transportation, logistics, energy, water and solid waste management, networks, etc.).

The restricted and isolated character of islands’ geography combined with the intensive touristic activities, the high potential of renewable energy sources and the beautiful landscapes and nature creates a pluralistic set of characteristics providing great potentials, but also need for comprehensive planning and real life applications.

DAFNI – THE NETWORK OF SUSTAINABLE GREEK ISLANDS DAFNI is a network consisting of the two insular Regions of North and South Aegean and the most of the island municipalities (38) in the Aegean Sea, among which are: Santorini, Mykonos, Syros, Paros, Lesvos, Rhodes and Kos1. DAFNI is currently in the process of extending its members to the Ionian Sea incorporating the Region of Ionian Islands and the seven (7) island municipalities.

DAFNI network aims at promoting financial, environmental and social sustainability for its member islands. In particular, the vision of DAFNI is to convert Greek islands into smart islands, by promoting the smarter management of infrastructures, among which sustainable mobility and transport. Greek islands can be converted into model areas for cleaner, more efficient and sustainable mobility.

The mobility department of DAFNI aims at developing a Sustainable Island Mobility Plan (SIMP) for every member island, aspiring that the sustainable mobility approach can convert the problematic (according to the traditional transport planning) characteristics of the islands into potential opportunities. Specifically, a SIMP is envisioned as the equivalent to a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP), with the only difference that it focuses on an island and not on a particular city/urban area. The strategic goal of a SIMP would be the integrated confrontation of the special problems and challenges that an island faces and the provision of sustainable mobility solutions on transport and land-use planning, mobility management, pricing policy and logistics. Enforced public engagement during all the stages of a SIMP project is undoubtedly a key success factor.

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In the website of DAFNI, the whole list of the island members can be found: http://www.dafni.net.gr/en/home.htm

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INDICATIVE STRATEGIC GOALS OF A SIMP 

A transportation system contributing to the financial, social and environmental sustainability of the island (by efficiently supporting yearlong agro/sustainable tourism, logistics, commerce, agriculture and fishing, social economy).

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Ensuring a minimum level of accessibility to key destinations and services for all citizens (taking into account vulnerable socio-economic groups, such as the elderly, the disabled, kids, women, as well as the residents of remote villages and settlements etc.)

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Improved safety and security across the whole island road network and overall transportation system.

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The re-allocation of public space and the restriction of traffic access and parking.

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Promoting car-sharing, car-pooling, bike sharing and other forms of sharing economy.

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Significant change in the modal split towards sustainable transport modes: - High quality and more accessible public transport (ICT use, on-demand service provision, etc.)

- New ways of using the car (e.g. car-sharing, car-pooling, etc.)

- Promoting walking and cycling (creation of a comprehensive pedestrian and cycle network, hiking trails restoration, bike-sharing, etc.)

- Improving air and/or sea transportation (from/to and around the island) - Optimizing the design of multi-modal hubs and terminals - Intelligent transport management and information systems (ITS), on demand service provision, ICT use, etc., integrating the existing and new mobility services.

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Efficient management of the seasonal peak of travel and parking demand and reduction of the subsequent air and noise pollution (especially in ports and island urban areas).

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Stimulating car-free vacation destinations. Islands with adequate mobility infrastructures could very efficiently promote the concept of car-free vacations. Measures like increasing walkability, bike sharing and respective infrastructures, car sharing, efficient and focused public transportation, sea transportation, etc. followed by the support of smart ITC support can definitely support this concept. A relevant pricing policy of maritime and air transport costs could also contribute to that goal.

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Stimulating projects at the nexus of mobility and energy, such as electromobility, to promote alternative fuels and the smartening of the island electrical grids. For instance, the possibilities stemming from the high RES potential of the Greek islands can be explored in order to increase the use of clean vehicles and alternative fuels. Moreover, the engagement of electric vehicles and ferries into the islands smart electric grids can also be investigated.

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Logistics chain optimization.

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GREEK ISLANDS “PARTICULARITIES” STRENGTHS / OPPORTUNITIES 

Pedestrianized historic centers in most islands “capitals”.

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Existence of extensive historic hiking trail networks in most Greek islands.

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Plenty of landmarks, touristic attractions, archaeogical sites, areas and landscapes of unique natural and ecological value, settlements of high urban and architectural interest and significance. All these poles of attraction can guide the goals and decisions taken during the SIMP development process.

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The islands’ maximum distances are obviously well-determined making the planning, testing and monitoring of mobility measures very manageable and straight-forward. Especially when it comes to electrical mobility where travel and every-day distances matter so much, islands rise as the best candidates in terms of technically and economically feasible projects.

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Existing smart grids. Five island members of the DAFNI network have been the frontrunners of the smart grids technology and are planned to host until 2018 the first installations (smart metering and energy control centres) making it possible to operate their electrical grids with greater flexibility, higher penetration of renewables and interactive management of the demand side loads. Smart grids are wellknown to operate very efficiently in collaboration with electrical vehicles functioning as short-term energy storage (V2G technology).

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High RES potential. All islands enjoy high potential of renewable energy sources, from the more conventional and feasible ones like wind and solar to the less commonly exploited like biomass / biogas, geothermal, oceanic, etc. This rich potential can be exploited to produce clean and alternative fuels and ultimately result in greener and cleaner ground and sea transportation.

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Excellent replication and dissemination potential. The Aegean island municipalities are members of the DAFNI Network of Sustainable Aegean islands, but also of the greater European Sustainable Islands Network reaching more than 150 members providing great possibilities to replicate actions from one island to the others and disseminate them through the networks’ structures. For instance, typologies of islands with similar mobility characteristics can be formulated, allowing common smart transport policies with high replication and dissemination potential. The fact that most Greek island municipalities have already initiated the process of becoming a member of CIVITAS Network should also be taken into account.

WEAKNESSES 

In many islands, the settlements are quite distant to each other.

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Inadequate road infrastructure.

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Usually rough and inconvenient terrain for walking and cycling activities.

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Difficulty in creating a dense, reliable and sustainable public transport network due to the low population density.

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Ageing population.

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Limited financial resources.

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CHALLENGES 

Population fluctuation and different mobility patterns in winter and summer season (increased traffic load in summer period). Most of the islands receive high number of visitors during summertime. The touristic period can last a few weeks to some months, depending on the popularity of the island, the existence of airport, the distance from the mainland, etc. The population often is triplicated during summer period followed by a sharp increase in traffic of vehicles either arriving by boat or rented on the islands. The port areas and marinas and the main settlements are the ones experiencing the heaviest loads.

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Geographical restriction and “double isolation” (internal and external). Insularity implies clear geographical borders and limited accessibility to the mainland or other islands (especially during winter).

However, apart from this “external isolation”, in most cases the residents of island villages suffer from “internal isolation” as well, due to the limited connectivity among the villages and the “capital”, which usually stems from the poor quality road network, the big distances and the absence of alternative transport mode options, such as public transport.

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Spatial diversification. The spatial arrangement of the islands is most often characterised by great diversity (a mixture of urban and rural areas, modern and traditional settlements, tourist attractions, natural areas of various accessibility levels, etc). There is the urban profile at the “capitals” of the bigger islands and the possibly greater villages; the semi-urban and rural characteristics of mid-size and small settlements and the individual rural dwellings. The respective local authorities (municipalities) in Greece after the last administrative reformation are responsible of the whole region of the island, one municipality per island, increasing the complexity in adjusting mobility to each part of the island.

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Road infrastructure diversification. The road infrastructure in the islands can vary from main and secondary paved roads, to narrow urban roads in the settlements, smooth and rough roads around less popular areas and of course a lot of trails used mainly nowadays for hiking and other activities. This diversity has been considered a fascinating challenge for traffic engineers and spatial planners.

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