International local government news 05.11.24

Here are the latest newsworthy and interesting stories from the local government sector that caught our attention. In this round-up of what’s happening right now in the world of local government, you’ll find best practices, inspiration, and more from across the sector.

THE NETHERLANDS: Amsterdam couples offered chance to tie the knot on ring road
As part of its 750th anniversary celebrations, next year 15 kilometres of the City of Amsterdam’s A10 road will be shut for music, sport, dance and performances and, surprisingly, weddings. The city is offering the chance for couples to register to tie the knot on the car-free A10 Road during next year’s Op de Ring festival. Ceremonies will be free of charge and conducted by city registrars in either Dutch or English.
City of Amsterdam

SOUTH KOREA: City plays cupid with dating events to tackle falling birthrates 
South Korea has the world’s lowest birthrate at just 0.72 children per woman in 2023. Nationally, the government is pouring some $276 billion USD into baby-boosting incentives like prenatal care subsidies and monthly cash payments for parents of young children. But at the local level, one municipality is taking a more unconventional approach to tackle the crisis. Seongham has launched a series of city-run dating events, which last year brought together more than 400 young singles across five events last year, for speed dating nights with free wine, chocolate and makeup stations. Now, due to popular demand, the city is considering expanding the program. It also reports 40% of participants have found a match at the events.
Bloomberg

POLAND: Warsaw reports success in curbing traffic deaths
The City of Warsaw is touting progress in meeting its road safety goals following reforms to street layouts and traffic policy. Fatalities have dropped by half in a decade on the capital’s roads, and are at the lowest rate since the city started collecting statistics in the 1980s. The city is committed to the Vision Zero strategy, a 1990s Swedish approach that aims to eliminate all traffic-related serious injury and death, after previously being known as one of the deadliest in Europe for both drivers and pedestrians. The reversal has been pinned on local measures like crosswalk upgrades. In 2021, the city identified 400 crosswalks, or 10% of Warsaw’s total, as posing a particular risk, and spent close to $10 million USD on improving lighting, creating raised medians, and developing new roundabouts. The success has also been pinned on new national regulations, such as a 2021 law granting pedestrians automatic priority at crosswalks.
Bloomberg

TURKEY: Istanbul turns to free public transport to boost employment
Unemployed residents in Istanbul can now access free public transport, as part of a bid to remove barriers for people looking to find a job. The city of 16 million people may be the largest to try such a policy. The scheme applies to jobseekers registered within the city’s regional employment centres, some 237,893 people in 2023. Participants will receive 96 free rides over three-month period via an app or QR code, with a maximum four rides each day. The scheme, announced by Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, comes after a fivefold increase in public transport costs over the past five years and an 8.8% national unemployment level.
Bloomberg

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