Biking In Europe Is About To Get Even Better

Many European cities and countries are known for their strong biking culture and infrastructure that make it fun and safe to visit, and improve health, lower congestion and create more liveable cities for residents.

A new resolution – just passed by the European Parliament – aims to make it even better. Cycling is planned to double on the continent in coming years.

“This important resolution, which reflects many of our longstanding advocacy and policy demands, represents a key milestone for cycling,” Jill Warren, chief executive of the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF), said in a statement when the news was announced on Thursday. “We applaud the entire European Parliament for adopting an EU Cycling Strategy that can unlock cycling’s potential to enable more people to cycle – and to cycle more safely – all across Europe.”

Ms. Warren, whose umbrella group is based in Brussels with more than 60 member organizations in over 40 countries, and advocates at other cycling associations, including Cycling Industries Europe (CIE), the Confederation of the European Bicycle Industry (CONEBI) and the European Bicycle Manufacturers Association (EBMA) are calling the political declaration “historic.”

The resolution, adopted almost unanimously in Strasbourg, calls for the European Commission along with EU member states to develop a cycling strategy to double the number of kilometers cycled in Europe by 2030 and sets out a 17-point action plan that includes a range of recommendations, from including cycling in public transport planning to increasing cycling-focused jobs in manufacturing, tourism, retail, health and sports.

The “cycling ecosystem” already employs one million people in Europe today, according to the European Cyclists’ Federation, which noted that the resolution “marks a recognition of cycling as a fully-fledged mode of transport and key industrial asset to meet long-term climate and clean manufacturing objectives.”

Other recommendations to improve cycling and promote it as a sustainable and healthy way to get around — for transportation and for leisure, include:

• Significantly increase investments in safe, separated cycling infrastructure and integrate cycling into urban frameworks
• Improve road safety education and training
• Support the production of “Made in Europe” bicycles and components
• Increase the accessibility and affordability of bicycles
• Accelerate the development of EuroVelo, the European cycle route network, and its 17 routes
• Promote cycle-friendly workplaces
• Enable safe and secure bike parking spaces and charging capacity for e-bikes

The resolution is among a number of other initiatives that embrace “a more strategic approach to growing cycling that continues to build among EU Member States,” the European Cyclists’ Federation noted.

“From an industry perspective,” Kevin Mayne, chief executive of Cycling Industries Europe, said in a statement, “this is the most comprehensive endorsement of the importance of our sector that we have ever had by the EU institutions.”

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