Evonik presents Road Safety Award to Colombian city

Evonik Industries AG, a specialty chemicals company and the inventor of methyl methacrylate (MMA) cold plastic road markings, presented the “Evonik Road Safety Award” to the city of Medellin, Colombia, during the opening ceremony of its annual Mobility Week. Through the granting of this award, Evonik recognized the city of Medellin for its implementation of a comprehensive plan to encourage sustainable mobility through the use of innovative road marking applications.

Granted in 2017 for the second time, the Evonik Road Safety Award is designed to support sustainable road safety initiatives and projects worldwide, as part of the company’s corporate and social responsibility. Evonik advocates good social development in all its global sites and thus, supports charitable undertakings that raise the quality of life. On behalf of Evonik, Andreas Kripzak, the vice president of Coating & Adhesive Resins Americas, presented the award to the city of Medellin for the project “Sustainable Mobility—A Task for All.” Evonik acknowledged the contribution the city has made to providing safer infrastructure that ensures the mobility and accessibility of all citizens.

From left, Débora Rebuelta, senior business manager, Coatings & Adhesive Resins, Evonik Degussa Brasil Ltda.; Andreas Kripzak, vice president Coatings & Adhesive Resins, Americas Region, Evonik Corporation; and Juan Camilo Gomez G., mobility manager, secretary of mobility, Medellin

Once known as a city of violence, Medellin has completely reinvented itself over recent years and is now considered internationally to be one of the most innovative cities in the world. Through its Municipal Development Plan, Medellin has shown a strong commitment to the implementation of a sustainable mobility system by enhancing their transport infrastructure and applying targeted urban interventions to “reclaim the city.” As part of this comprehensive plan, the city has integrated a network of preferential bus lanes, dedicated bike lanes for cyclists, restricted parking areas and colorful walkways and zebra crossings for pedestrians. These interventions have all proven to have a positive effect on reducing the number of conflicts among road users and are also receiving positive feedback from citizens.

Medellin’s innovative and creative “tactical urbanism” approach, has taken once neglected or accident prone areas of the city and applied small scale road marking interventions that improve their local neighborhoods and city gathering parks. With the €10,000 cash prize associated with the award, Medellin has asked Evonik to donate it to Fundacion Orbis as part of their ongoing organization of road marking projects that enhance road safety throughout the city.

“By presenting this award to the city of Medellin, we recognize their innovative and proactive plan to optimize their transportation networks and make the safety of all road users a top priority,” stated Kripzak. “As a creative industrial group, Evonik will continue to advocate for road safety initiatives and support local communities as they build more sustainable environments to improve mobility for their citizens.”

The Evonik Road Safety Award will be bestowed every year. It assesses entries based on their contribution to road safety and sustainability, as well as their innovative character and potential replicability. Every applicant was screened by an independent jury of internationally recognized experts in the field of road safety, transport, and city design; among others is the International Road Federation (IRF) Geneva.