Cycling into the future

Date:

14 Sep, 2016 09:30 - 14:00

Cycling into the future - a new approach to infrastructure, a new approach to policy-making at European level!

This event, jointly organized in partnership of the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Slovakia to the EU, ECF and the recently approved European CHIPS project, will start two processes:

It will launch the official process of developing a stakeholder input document laying the groundwork for a future EU Cycling Strategy.
It will be the official kick-off of the Interreg VB North West Europe CHIPS project on Cycle Highway Innovation.

Agenda:

Part 1: Welcome

Dr Bernhard Ensink, ECF Secretary General
Dr Bernd Biervert, Deputy Head of Cabinet of the Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič

Part 2: Towards an EU cycling strategy

Martin Eder, Austrian Ministry of Environment: THE PEP Partnership on Cycling Promotion and the Pan-European Masterplan for Cycling
Kevin Peel, Councillor Manchester City council and Rapporteur of the Committee of the Region’s report on an “EU Roadmap for Cycling”
Adam Bodor, ECF Director Advocacy and EuroVelo: The EU Cycling Strategy: Developing a blueprint for an EU Cycling Strategy

Part 3: Towards EU standards for cycle infrastructure?

Lessons learnt from 3 cycle highway projects from across Europe

Confirmed Speakers: Martijn Post, Province of Gelderland, Joris Van Damme , Province Flemish Brabant, Erik Štefanek, MRC Slovakia

Dutch institute for mobility (CROW) Hillie Talens
Panel discussion: Do we need an EU recommendation for cycle highways? And do we need EU minimum quality criteria for cycling infrastructure for projects co-funded with EU money?

Confirmed Panelists: Miklos Berencsi (Hungary Transport Administration), Kristína Marošová (Slovak Transport Ministry), Klaus Bondam (Danish Cycling Embassy), Ellen Townsend (European Transport Safety Council), Joris Van Damme (Province Flemish Brabant).

Moderation: Geoff Meade

Context:

A doubling of cycling over the next 10 years in the EU, as the Committee of the Regions’ COTER Commission recently called for, requires the strong support of all levels of government, including the EU: hence the call of three European institutions – Parliament, Council and Committee of the Regions - for a genuine EU cycling strategy/ roadmap.

One tool to increase the number of people cycling in reality, not just on paper, are cycle highways. The European CHIPS project will demonstrate that, especially in combination with the growing number of e-bikes, cycle highway innovation can effectively get commuters out of their cars. Related projects are popping up at many places across the continent, making commuter distances of 15km and more on a bicycle a realistic option for many people. With this opportunity comes the need to get it right in terms of quality, posing several questions: Do we need a common methodology of cycle highways across Europe, similar to infrastructure designed for motorized road transport? And by extension, do we need EU minimum quality criteria for cycling infrastructure for projects co-funded with EU money?

ECF