New German federal cycling board gains industry representation
The newly formed Advisory Board for Cycling of the Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport in Germany has appointed bike industry leaders to the sit on its board.
When appointing the advisory board, Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing emphasized to the representatives of the industry associations the importance of the German bicycle industry for the implementation of the the National Cycling Plan 3.0 (NRVP). At the same time, he emphasized the innovative strength of the industry, of which he was able to get a personal picture at the Eurobike in July.
The bicycle industry is now to be represented on the advisory board by Elena Laidler-Zettelmeyer from Zukunft Fahrrad and Burkhard Stork from the Zweirad-Industrie-Verband (ZIV).
Elena Laidler-Zettelmeyer, Head of Strategic Cooperation at Zukunft Fahrrad, said of the appointment: “A better cycling infrastructure, a smooth connection with other means of transport or urban commercial traffic with cargo bikes are central levers for making progress on the way to bicycle land. In order to achieve the objectives set out in the NRDP, the bicycle industry is indispensable. It offers the right products and services for more sustainable mobility, which saves energy, protects the climate and ensures greater safety. The fact that the Federal Government is also considering bicycle promotion in the NRVP as a promotion of Germany as a business location is very welcome. I am looking forward to a constructive exchange in the advisory board in order to strengthen cycling in Germany.”
Burkhard Stork, Managing Director ZIV: “The NRVP is very ambitious. In order to achieve the goals set, the political will of the entire federal government, the federal states and the municipalities is now needed. . The Federal Ministry of Transport is sending an important signal with the Cycling Advisory Board. Because now the implementation must get going: not only in terms of financing, but also in terms of the legal framework. . The experience of recent years shows that political will and willingness to change are not a matter of course. The bicycle industry will continue to exert pressure so that the conversion to a bicycle country Germany finally arrives in the area. That’s why I’m looking forward to working on the advisory board.”
The National Cycling Plan was adopted by the German Government last year to promote cycling on a federal level. The 80-page, five chapter document outlines the forward-looking ambition and measures to be rolled out.
