Amsterdam bans creation of new hotels
Another piece in the overall strategy to reduce tourist flows to the city
The Gdynia public transit operator yielded to pressure from religious authorities who were accusing it of promoting Satanism
PKS Gdynia, the public transit operator serving bus lines in the vicinity of this Polish Baltic city, announced on Monday that it intends to change the numbering on one of its lines 666 to 669. The line in question links the village of Debki to the town of Hel. It’s the name of the second terminus that inspired the tongue-in-cheek number assigned to the bus service – and we might say a refreshing show of sense of humour on the part of a usually-humourless municipal transit company.
In reality, there’s nothing hellish about the bus line, a scenic route which follows the Baltic coastline and ends in Hel, an idyllic and quaint sea resort located at the tip of a long sandbar-type peninsula. Still, it seems that Polish activists of the Catholic Church couldn’t share in the laughter, much as they’d tried we assume, and kept pressuring PKS Gdynia to change the numbering of the bus line with the argument that it promoted Satanism and “anti-Christian propaganda”.
Their complaints date at least back to 2018, but it seems that their bugging and lobbying has finally produced a result and the public transport company has decided to give in. They announced that the last number will be flipped from 6 to 9, so it will be “less controversial and less conspicuous”, as quoted by Notes from Poland.
We, however, think that they did their best to retain some of the naughty humour in the numbering, and hopefully, this time around no one will wise up to raise another complaint.
Given that despite its scenic location, Hel isn’t a global summer destination powerhouse, the bus line 666 number was a clever and cost-free marketing gimmick to promote it. In a world where social media viral popularity is king, it would be silly not to jump on the opportunity.
And indeed, many tourists had come from far just to take a ride on bus line 666 and in the process, they got to discover that Poland can also be a sun, sand and sea destination.
That’s why, after the number change announcement was made, social media accounts boiled with complaints and demands to keep the original number. Who knows, maybe the public mood will eventually prevail again, but until then your last opportunity to ride on line 666 is until 24 June when the change will enter into force.
Silesian is spoken by about half a million people in the south of the country
Legislators and magnates have to await a preliminary ruling from the European Court of Justice
The building will then serve as the site for a new museum dedicated to Finnish-Russian relations
The tool helps identify undeclared swimming pools and garden sheds
It will serve as a virtual companion to the municipal network of libraries in the country
In addition, the federal government has launched the National Week of Action against Bicycle Theft to raise awareness of the issue and the new solution
The tests are also experimenting with a charging point that is easier to maintain
Reportedly, the aim of the local government is to curb violence and disorder among the youth
The city thinks that it’s time to update pet-related street cleanliness rules for the 21st century
Yes, you guessed it right, that also includes baguettes and cheeses
Reportedly, the aim of the local government is to curb violence and disorder among the youth
Silesian is spoken by about half a million people in the south of the country
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
Catch up with some recommendations for the 2024 European Capital of Culture programme from the mayor of Tartu
An interview with the ICLEI regional director for Europe аfter the close of COP28
An interview with a member of the No Hate Speech Network team