Summary
Accessibility of the City Centre is one of main priorities of the City Ljubljana. In the last few years The City Centre of Ljubljana is transformed into eco zone and it is closed to motorized traffic or has limited traffic regime. The public transport company Ljubljanski potniški promet is constantly striving to upgrade the public transport offer for the elderly and therefore it offers various accessible options of travelling: low-floor buses with audio and video announcements, an accessible funicular railway to the city castle, public shared bike system BicikeLJ and last but not least, since 2009, electric vehicles named Kavalir (Cavaliers) which are free of charge and make best accessibility for elderly and people with disabilities as well as visitors, specially in the city centre.
The Cavalier fleet has seven vehicles, four open and three closed. Open Cavalier vehicles are used in the warmer months, and closed vehicles operate all year around. Closed vehicles also have a low entry platform and sliding doors to facilitate wheelchair entry and exit. Their low speed enables them to stop during journeys. A passenger can hail the driver and he will stop and take the passenger along. Ordering the Cavalier via phone call is also an option. One Cavalier takes up to 5 people. They are without routes as they cover a specific part of the city centre where you are allowed to walk or bike. One Cavalier can drive around up to 300 passengers a day. Cavaliers run all year around, from 6am to 10pm in the pedestrian zone.
The elderly and people with disabilities can also use these special electric vehicles at Žale Central Cemetery. Individual rental service is available while free rental is possible on the days around the 1st of November (All Saints) and for travelling at funerals.
Since 2021, Cavalier have been available also throughout the entire area of the University Medical Centre Ljubljana and the Ljubljana Institute of Oncology. And since 2024, a new sustainable service, Prijatelj Kavalir (Friend Cavalier), has been introduced, providing free transportation with an electric van, intended for elderly and vulnerable residents in the Sostro District. Prijatelj Kavalir ensures safe, reliable, and free transportation for the elderly and other vulnerable groups to medical facilities, pharmacies, and administrative offices in Ljubljana.
The introduction of electric-powered Cavaliers is part of the measures taken to make public transport in Ljubljana more accessible to the elderly and people with disabilities as well as visitors. These vehicles also are environmentally friendly as they do not produce any harmful exhaust or noise.
Key facts
Main target group: Older people in general
Other target group(s): people with different disabilities
Sector(s): Transportation
Other sector(s): accessibility
Desired outcome for older people:
Be mobile
- Accessibility
- Ageing in place
- Inclusion