What projects do Bucharesters want to see implemented in their city?

A new campaign kicked off on September 18, allowing Bucharest citizens to propose public investment projects that the Bucharest City Hall will implement with money from the local budget. The Bucharesters have proposed some 100 projects so far, in areas such as smart city, infrastructure, health, mobility, green spaces, and public spaces. Most projects have been submitted in the Public spaces landscaping/revamping category. For example, one of the projects targets the installation of laptop charging sockets at the tables found in parks. The initiator says that this measure would encourage people to spend more time outside. According to him, the service could be free, or could be charged per hour. Another Bucharest resident has proposed the set up of automated eco modern toilets in the city, which people would be able to access with coins. “There is one public toilet for 7,000 inhabitants in Bucharest at this moment, which is a big problem for the city,” the initiator said. Another user would want the public transport stations in the city to be revamped as to show the buses and trams time of arrival and be safer for the commuters. Someone would also want the Unirii Boulevard to be transformed into a big commercial street similar to the those in Vienna, Paris or Rome. Meanwhile, others would want to see some revamping work done in Cismigiu park, while another person wants special equipment for children with loco-motor disorders installed in Bucharest parks. One of those who submitted projects in this category would want some of the sidewalks in downtown Bucharest to be covered with 3D drawings. In the Infrastructure category, the Bucharesters proposed measures to ease the traffic in the capital, as well as lanes for cyclists, a running track around Herastrau park, and pedestrian areas on the streets adjacent to Gradina Icoanei park, among others. Nine projects were also submitted so far in the Smart City category. For example, some of them propose Wi-Fi for the public transport, a system that would allow citizens to see when their bus or tram will arrive with the help of a mobile app, a more modern site of the Bucharest City Hall, and the creation of an app that people can use to send notifications/proposals to the local government. Some Bucharesters would also want the City Hall to arrange special spaces where the young people can do sports, more car and bike parking spaces, access ramps for people with disabilities, charging stations for electric cars, an app that would let citizens know where to find parking spaces, solar panels on the roofs of buildings owned by the City Hall, and tax exemption for single-parent families. The full list of proposed projects can be found here. Those interested can still submit their ideas until October 6. Then, a committee will evaluate the proposals and, starting November 6, the citizens of Bucharest will be able to vote their favorites. The final results are to be announced on November 24.