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Campaigners hail “historic” EU cycling declaration

“Monumental milestone” reached as “most ambitious EU initiative” related to cycling is officially adopted

Campaigners have welcomed what they say is an “historic” declaration from the European Union that seeks to establish a common framework for cycling across member states as well as placing it on an equal footing with other modes of transport and putting it  firmly at the centre of efforts to fight climate change.

Signed on Tuesday by the European Council, Commission and Parliament, the European Declaration on Cycling has been described by the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF), which represents national campaign groups across the continent, as “the most ambitious EU initiative on cycling to date” and represents “a unique opportunity to ensure that cycling is a top EU political priority.”

The declaration, which was adopted at a meeting in Brussels of transport ministers from member states – which since 2021 no longer includes the United Kingdom, of course –says cycling is among the “most sustainable, accessible and inclusive, low-cost and healthy forms of transport and recreation,” and also underlines “its key importance for European society and economy.”

Representing the strongest commitment yet to cycling from the EU, with the introductory text stating that it aims “to unleash the full potential of cycling in the EU” with the document acting as a “strategic compass for existing and future policies and initiatives related to cycling” and outlining actions to be taken in the following areas:

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.

ECF President Henk Swarttouw said, “The European Declaration on Cycling will be etched in history as a monumental milestone for the advancement of cycling in Europe.

“This inter-institutional declaration commits all European Institutions to support and enhance policies towards more cycling and to place it on the same level as other modes of transport.

“We are proud to have played a decisive role advocating for this declaration, alongside our members and our industry partners.”

The campaign group’s CEO, Jill Warren, added: "Today, we celebrate the adoption of the European Declaration on Cycling as a truly historic achievement. This declaration holds the potential to unlock the benefits of cycling for millions of European citizens, reflecting many of ECF’s longstanding advocacy and policy demands.

“With cycling elevated to a strategic priority, we stand ready to support the institutions in realising its full potential as a healthy and sustainable means of transport.”

The ECF has urged member states and EU institutions to continue co-operating to ensure that the pledges made in the declaration are acted upon, and ahead of June’s elections to the European Parliament has published its Shift Gears for Europe manifesto, which calls on prospective MEPs “to commit to supporting cycling in the upcoming political term and to make it a democratic, affordable, and reliable means of transport for people across all income levels.”

> European Cyclists' Federation launches online dashboard to track cycling infrastructure across comntinent

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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35 comments

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Hirsute replied to john_smith | 8 months ago
2 likes

Unfortunately, your comments are exactly the sort made on social media, local rags and by tory mps about modern life. It should not be a surprise that they are taken lilterally in the absence of anyother indicator.

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john_smith replied to Hirsute | 8 months ago
2 likes

True. But I did try to provide some indicators. People are very quick to jump to conclusions and assume the worst.

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Hirsute replied to john_smith | 8 months ago
3 likes

Nothing in your first 3 posts. Simply taken at face value. A conclusion would be not to take them at face value.

Nothing to do with assuming the worst (or best depending on your outlook). What you said can be found in social media and local rags plus those moronic CCHQ videos and tweets.

 

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john_smith replied to Hirsute | 8 months ago
0 likes

The third was meant seriously, as was the fourth.

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chrisonabike replied to hawkinspeter | 8 months ago
2 likes

hawkinspeter wrote:

I'm sure that the UK won't be left behind in implementing this kind of progressive policy, now that we're no longer in the EU, right?

Don't worry, Starmer's Blue Labour are hiding their plans to bring this in if elected!  Along with a raft of secret socialist measures and a stealth social justice agenda like *checks notes / Labour website* mostly maintaining the current fiscal policies, setting up a 1,000 strong Returns Unit to ensure failed asylum seekers and others with no right to be here are removed, getting more houses built ... er... well, anyway, it's secret, that's the point!

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