The HEAT project, realized by partners from Estonia, Finland, Latvia and Sweden addresses the problem of fragmented urban planning and cycling infrastructure. The main reasons are limited participation of citizens and other sectors in the planning processes. Moreover, the initiatives that aim at promoting biking in cities are often fragmented, full of gaps - thus, with low impact. The problem is relevant because of not only environmental concerns but also of health and social issues. Current consulting practices fail to involve city inhabitants and other sectors in the urban planning process to express their needs. People are experts in their city and their view can considerably enrich urban plans. Well-designed urban environments have the potential to enrich health, social and educational functions of a city.

To improve urban planning practices in CB region, the HEAT project proposes to bring city inhabitants and regional and municipal officials at the centre of urban planning by developing new and effective ways of consulting them. People will take part in interactive workshops and campaigns where they will be able to create their vision of biking infrastructure. At the same time, an economic analysis of savings to the health sector through increased biking will provide an argument for future investments. Stakeholders from both the local and regional level will be actively involved in these processes.

The overall objective of the project is to contribute to the planning of healthier, more active and inclusive urban areas in the CB region, in which biking is a safe, popular and acceptable mode of transport. To make this happen, Participatory Concepts for development of biking infrastructure in pilot cities and region of Southwest Finland will be developed and pilot actions will be conducted. Thanks to cross-border cooperation, partners will learn from each other, share experiences and support each other with their specific expertise. Project results will be widely distributed in CB region and beyond.