The European Commission has just launched the long-awaited European Cycling Declaration. Promised by the institution’s Executive Vice President Frans Timmermans as a “cycling revolution” ahead of the Grand Départ of the Tour de France 2022 at the Cycling Summit in Copenhagen last July and reaffirmed in March this year, the declaration has finally been adopted.
1. European Cycling Declaration
The European Declaration on Cycling, adopted today by the European Commission, recognises cycling as one of the most sustainable, accessible and inclusive, low-cost and healthy forms of transport and recreation, and its key importance for European society and the economy. The Declaration will serve as a strategic compass for existing and future policies and initiatives related to cycling.
Alongside safer infrastructure such as separated cycle paths, all elements of the Safe System approach should apply to both bikes and cars.
Adina Vălean, European Commissioner for Transport
“Safety is a prerequisite to encourage cycling, as cyclists are vulnerable – 9% of road accident fatalities in the EU are cyclists. Alongside safer infrastructure such as separated cycle paths, all elements of the Safe System approach should apply to both bikes and cars. These include safe speeds and road use, and proper enforcement of road traffic rules”, said European Commissioner for Transport Adina Vălean at the official launch on the Declaration in Seville. “Additionally, to safety, this Declaration will help stimulate high-quality jobs, including in training and cycling tourism. In 2022, a total of 14.7 million bicycles were produced in the EU, a 29% increase from 2012 to 2022.”
Through the jointly adopted Declaration, the European Parliament, Council and Commission commit to specific actions aimed at unleashing the full potential of cycling in the EU, categorised in eight key principles:
- Developing and strengthening cycling policies
- Encouraging inclusive, affordable and healthy mobility
- Creating more and better cycling infrastructure
- Increasing investments and creating favourable conditions for cycling
- Improving road safety and security
- Supporting quality green jobs and the development of a world-class European cycling industry
- Supporting multimodality and cycling tourism
- Improving the collection of data on cycling
Clear commitments, such as safe and coherent cycling networks in cities, better links with public transport, secure parking spaces, the deployment of charging points for e-bikes and bike highways connecting cities with rural areas, have been decided as a necessity to improve the quality, quantity, continuity and attractiveness of cycling infrastructure across all Member States.
2. Welcomed announcement
Cycling advocacy associations – the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF), Cycling Industries Europe (CIE) and the Confederation of the European Bicycle Industry (CONEBI), enthusiastically welcomed today’s proposal. The cycling organisations congratulated the Commission on their collaborative and consultative approach that has led to this Declaration, not only with the European Parliament and Council and internally within the Commission, but also externally with key stakeholders including the cities, regions, Member State officials, industry associations, companies and NGOs represented in the Commission’s Expert Group on Urban Mobility (EGUM).
“This is a key milestone for cycling. We are delighted that the Declaration reflects many of ECF’s longstanding advocacy and policy demands aimed at increasing and improving cycling in Europe, such as creating more and better cycling infrastructure and encouraging inclusive and affordable mobility”, ECF CEO Jill Warren commented on the announcement.
This is an excellent framework for enabling many more Europeans to cycle – and to cycle more safely.
Jill Warren, ECF CEO
“We have long advocated for a unified EU cycling policy that would place cycling on the same level as other modes of transport and industrial sectors in the EU, releasing more coherent policy support, greater consistency across EU Member States and billions more for investments. The Declaration breaks new ground by including all the key areas required for a successful cycling ecosystem for society and business”, said Kevin Mayne, CEO of CIE.
“The bicycle, e-bike, parts and accessories industries in Europe highly appreciate the Commission’s European Cycling Declaration proposal. Its implementation will help to further develop and grow the cycling sector as central partners in the EU mobility ecosystem and as a world-class European cycling industry”, added Manuel Marsilio, General Manager of CONEBI.
3. Background
In June 2022, 6 countries joined forces for a European Cycling Strategy. Mobility ministers from Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, the Netherlands, Austria and Ireland signed a declaration calling on the EU to “implement a real cycling policy” and for 2024 to be designated the European Year of Cycling. The document further stated that the EU should prioritise cycling in its climate strategy and make citizens more aware of the benefits of cycling. To date, 5 more EU countries have signed the Belgium-led European Cycling Declaration which calls for the bloc to increase the use of bicycles as well as funding for cycling.
In January 2023, a resolution on a EU cycling strategy was adopted in the European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee, voted almost unanimously by the full house of the Parliament the following month. The resolution called for a range of specific actions to double cycling in Europe by 2030.
