In 1989, Skopje held a referendum on whether to develop a tram network, and the people of the city voted against it. This is mentioned in the museum where this poster was on display and also in various places online, but I’ve been unable to find the actual result of this referendum. I must admit to finding this less than ideal as I like my historical uncertainty to have the decency to be either fully obscure or properly documented, not sitting somewhere inbetween.
Anyway, it’s one of those decisions that may have made sense at the time, because large transport projects are expensive, disruptive and usually involve someone digging up a road just when everyone has decided they quite liked the road where it was. But looking at Skopje now, with its traffic, heat, wide roads and scattered districts, the decision does feel a little sub-optimal.
The idea has not gone away either, which suggests that the 1989 decision did not entirely settle the matter and numerous politicians have tried to bring the project back. They’ve had more success with their strategy of constructing tens of large statues about the place though and a lovely new tram system doesn’t look like it’ll be introduced in Skopje any time soon. On a similar note, Norwich needs a tram system, and frankly that is not talked about enough, presumably because everyone is too busy sitting in traffic pretending buses are the final stage of transportation civilisation.