14 October 2016 Free public transit for book lovers!
The City Council of Krakow has adopted a resolution providing free public transit for participants of the International Book Fair in Krakow and the Conrad Festival, who have a valid ticket to the Fair between the 27th and 30th of October.
The idea of this special discount for readers was put forward by Mayor Jacek Majchrowski, in favour of the joint initiative of the Book Fair in Krakow, the Krakow Festival Office – the Operator of the Krakow UNESCO City of Literature programme and the Councillors from the Culture and Historical Protection Committee.
“Being a Cracovian means a special attitude towards books. Cracovians openly declare their commitment to literature, they read a lot, visit the Conrad Festival in droves, and the Krakow Book Fair beats attendance records year after year”, said Krakow Mayor Jacek Majchrowski. “I believe that with this year’s 20th edition of the Fair and the culmination of yet another edition of the Conrad Festival, with a star-studded pantheon of prominent writers and intellectuals, we have an excellent context to emphasise that the manifestation of reading attitudes in Krakow – the UNESCO City of Literature – is very important for us. In this way, we not only popularise the book as a cultural good and encourage people to visit the Book Fair and the Conrad Festival, but we also promote sustainable public transit, the high quality of which is something we can be very proud of”.
The discount will be effective from the 27th to the 30th of October. Free travel on city trams and buses will be available to passengers who hold an admission ticket to the Book Fair. The discount will benefit primarily readers travelling between the EXPO Kraków International Exhibition and Congress Centre at Galicyjska 9, where the Book Fair will take place, and the meetings of the Conrad Festival, taking place at the Czeczotka Palace (the old Centrum Gallery, Wiślna 1). The solution will help to relieve crowding on streets and in car parks, and is intended to be an incentive for residents to actively spend the most literary week of the year.
“We are very pleased that the joint initiative of the Krakow Festival Office and the Book Fair in Krakow was positively received by the Mayor and the Council. The resolution of the City Council on free travel on public transit for holders of an admission ticket to our fair is a very important message for the residents of the city and readers from all over Poland, showing the Councillors’ concern for the level of readership and promotion of literature. Making it easier for participants of the 20th anniversary edition of the International Book Fair in Krakow to take part in the most interesting events during the culmination of the Conrad Festival is a gesture worthy of a UNESCO City of Literature”, said Grażyna Grabowska, President of the Fair in Krakow.
The action was supported by Krakow councillors, particularly Anna Szybist and Małgorzata Jantos. The originators of the initiative have not ruled out its continuation in subsequent years. Through this action, Krakow can continue one of the most original campaigns to promote public transit in our country, in conjunction with a broad promotion of reading.
