Work underway on joined up EU cycling policy statement

A meeting in Brussels on Tuesday signalled the beginning of a joined-up EU policy statement on cycling, as announced by EU Vice-President Frans Timmermans at the Copenhagen Cycling Summit in June.

European cycling organisations and political groups begun the formal work toward mapping out a political commitment that will be shaped into a cycling resolution to be voted in the full Parliament in December, then pass to the EU Commission for action in early 2023.

The stakeholder workshop on Tuesday allowed the European cycling organisations and leading cities like Copenhagen to set out their visions for an ambitious EU Cycling Strategy that would be coordinated, structured and funded across the EU and Member States.

Workshop participant and French MEP Karima Delli was among those posting support for the progressive policy on cycling, stating “The bicycle is a clean and forward-looking mode of transport that deserves a dedicated policy. We will lift the brakes on the use of the bicycle.”

Jointly European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF), Cycling Industries Europe, (CIE), and Confederation of European Bicycle Industries (CONEBI) called on the European Commission to rapidly adopt a EU Cycling Strategy that:

• Aims to double the number of kilometres cycled by people in Europe through quality infrastructure, road safety policies and technologies like eBikes, cargo bikes and bike sharing.
• Recognises cycling as a priority mode of transport and mobility industry, on the level with all other modes.
• Supports a competitive, resilient, sustainable cycling industry that can grow to supply at least 30 million bikes and e-bikes per year.
• Recognizes the need to bridge an investment gap of €20 billion for infrastructure and €2 billion for industrial transition, backed by regulatory and trade stability to give a basis for investment confidence.
• Supports the local and regional structures needed to retain workers, invest in new technologies and make the transition to sustainable production of bikes and components.

The Transport Committee is expected to pass its draft resolution in late November before the final document goes to the full Parliament Plenary in Strasbourg on 12th and 13th December.

Separately this week it has been found in a new study that 75% of urban trips could be completed by active travel means if safe conditions were to be provided to stimulate modal share growth.