2024: A year of breakthroughs for cycling

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13 Dec, 2024

As the final days of 2024 tick away, one thing is already clear: this year will go down in history as another landmark for cycling. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the European Cyclists' Federation (ECF), its members, and partners, cycling has firmly taken its place at the centre of political discourse—from global climate negotiations at COP to key EU policymaking.

A High-Profile Start

2024 kicked off with EU ministers and transport leaders gathering in Hasselt, Belgium, for the High-Level EU Cycling Conference on January 30. Hosted by the Flemish Government during Belgium’s EU Presidency, the event set the stage for a year of historic progress, including a major step forward in advancing the European Declaration on Cycling, which would be finalised just months later.

The historic European Declaration on Cycling

One of the most defining moments of the year came on 3 April, when the European Council, Commission, and Parliament signed the European Declaration on Cycling. This bold commitment, the EU’s most ambitious cycling initiative to date, officially recognises cycling as a "fully-fledged mode of transport." With eight core principles and 36 commitments, the declaration describes 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 economy.” By placing cycling on equal footing with other transport modes, the declaration affirms cycling's critical role in Europe’s future.

This achievement didn’t come out of thin air. It built on years of groundwork: pledges made in 2023 by former Commission Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans, the European Parliament’s Cycling Resolution, the Member State-led Declaration on Cycling, and the announcement of the Cycling Declaration proposal by EU Commissioner for Transport Adina Vălean at the EU Urban Mobility Days event in Seville last October. In early 2024, the Transport Committee of the European Parliament overwhelmingly voted to adopt the European Declaration on Cycling. ECF, as the only Europe-wide civil society voice for cycling, together with its industry partners Cycling Industries Europe and Confederation of the European Bicycle Industry (CONEBI) had long advocated for a unified cycling policy at the European level and were at the forefront every step of the way.

The adoption of the European Declaration on Cycling is exemplary of what strong collaboration between civil society, the cycling industry, and governmental institutions can bring about. The declaration will serve as a strategic compass for existing and future cycling policies for years to come.

Cycling and the EU Elections

Under the flag of "Shift Gears for Europe," ECF launched its EU elections campaign in April. With the European Declaration on Cycling just implemented, MEPs have a unique opportunity to ensure that cycling becomes a top EU political priority and that citizens can enjoy the benefits through six action points, from allocating EU funds to cycling to supporting EuroVelo. The pledge was endorsed by over 225 MEPs from all parties across 19 countries. The strongest support came from the European Greens, closely followed by S&D, with most backing from France, Italy, and Portugal.

From overlooked to front and centre: Walking and cycling step into the spotlight at COP29

Just three years after being nearly absent from COP26’s transport agenda, walking and cycling have firmly established their place at the forefront of international climate discussions at this year's COP. In 2021, the transport decarbonisation agenda focused almost exclusively on the electrification of vehicles. It was through a tireless, pro-cycling campaign spearheaded by ECF and the founding of the Partnership for Active Travel and Health (PATH)that this narrative began to shift.

For the fourth consecutive year, ECF attended the global climate summit as a UN-accredited observer NGO, as well as a founding partner of PATH. Throughout the summit, ECF advocated for active mobility by speaking at no fewer than nine events, engaging with government officials and stakeholders alike. Noteworthy moments included the High-Level Ministerial Round Table and the global Climate Action Closing Event, Champions for Change: Celebrating Progress and Potential in Global Climate Action, organised by the COP28 and COP29 UN Climate Change High-Level Champions.

Jill Warren speaking at the High-Level Ministerial Round Table

In the lead-up to COP29, ECF, as part of the PATH coalition, published an open letter urging national governments to prioritise active travel. ECF took the opportunity to meet with ministry officials and present the PATH COP29 Open Letter, which garnered the support of over 370 non-profit organisations from more than 70 countries. In addition, we shared the PATH Active Travel NDC Template, assisting governments to be more ambitious and impactful for walking and cycling in their NDCs. Officials we spoke with included:

Burundi: Dieudonné Dukundane, Minister of Infrastructure, Equipment, and Social Housing

Chile: Juan Carlos Munoz, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications

Netherlands: Afke van Rijn, Vice-Minister for the Environment and International Affairs

Somalia: Abdirizak Adam Gedi, State Minister of Planning and International Cooperation

United Kingdom: Mary Creagh, Minister for Nature

United States: Gretchen Goldman, Director of Climate Change Research and Technology at the U.S. Department of Transportation

Strengthening cycling policy at the European level

One of the main things stopping people from cycling is not having secure places to park. A major win for cyclists in 2024 was the adoption of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), which established default minimum bicycle parking standards for the first time across Europe. For new residential buildings, at least two bicycle parking spaces per apartment are now mandatory. Non-residential buildings also face requirements to dedicate space for bicycles, including cargo bikes and e-bikes.

In May, the promotion of active modes of transport, particularly cycling, was enshrined within the objectives and priorities of the TEN-T network. TEN-T is the EU's primary network of roads, railways, inland waterways, ports, maritime shipping routes, airports, and multimodal terminals. With the revision of the regulation, the EU aims to align TEN-T with the objective of cutting transport emissions by 90% compared to 1990 and increase connectivity across Europe. For many years, however, cycling, a key part of the equation for reducing transport emissions, had not been considered relevant for the network. ECF has long highlighted the cost-effectiveness of designing infrastructure with cycling in mind from the outset, avoiding expensive retrofits. Retrofitting a cycle bridge into a motorway interchange or a cycle tunnel under a train station is much more costly than designing for cycling from the start. As we say, "smart people do not pay twice."

Advancing road safety

Speeding remains a major contributor to road collisions, and lowering speed limits is essential to achieving Vision Zero, the EU’s goal of zero road deaths by 2050. In August, the European Commission’s Expert Group on Urban Mobility (EGUM), co-chaired by ECF, issued a set of recommendation to improve road safety for people walking, cycling, and using light electric vehicles. At the forefront of our proposals is a call to the Commission to recommend that all European cities adopt 30 km/h speed limits, as "excessive motor vehicle speed" is a major factor in road collisions. ECF played a leading role in crafting these recommendations, working closely with national governments, city officials, industry leaders, and civil society. This proposal, if implemented widely, could make Europe’s streets significantly safer for cyclists and pedestrians alike.

Following a letter co-signed by ECF, the European Commission has acknowledged concerns raised by environmental and safety organisations about the increasing influx of US-style pick-up trucks, particularly the Dodge Ram, into the EU. These vehicles, which are not subject to the same rigorous safety and environmental standards as mass-produced European vehicles, are able to bypass regulations through a loophole in the Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) process. The European Commission has responded by committing to address the issue and strengthen IVA rules to ensure that only individual, customised imports benefit from this lenient procedure, rather than large volumes of mass-market vehicles.

Funding for cycling

From 2026, the EU Social Climate Fund (SCF) will make €87 billion available for initiatives to tackle transport poverty, including subsidies for bicycles, cycling infrastructure projects, and bike-sharing schemes. However, these benefits depend on Member States incorporating cycling measures into their Social Climate Plans, which must be submitted by June 2025.

The Commission has issued guidance on good practices for cost-effective measures and investments. Cycling-related initiatives highlighted in the guidance include an income-dependent cargo bike subsidy scheme aimed at families and a programme to improve mobility around schools, with a focus on active mobility infrastructure. Additionally, the Commission has published a set of recommendations for the transport sector, developed by the Subgroup on Public Transport and Shared Mobility within the Expert Group on Urban Mobility. ECF and our partners CIE are active members of this group, and we are pleased to see our joint recommendations reflected in the document. ECF and CIE have also compiled a list of good practice examples in an advocacy guidance document. ECF now encourages cycling organisations to advocate for the inclusion of cycling initiatives in these plans by engaging with national authorities and participating in public consultations.

Building momentum: EuroVelo and cycling tourism highlights of 2024

2024 marked a year of significant progress for EuroVelo, with key improvements in cycling infrastructure and data collection, an expanded communication strategy, and important advocacy milestones for the European long-distance cycling route network. Key achievements included the deployment of the European Certification Standard (ECS), with surveys conducted in 11 countries to improve cycle routes and services, leading to a better understanding of what is needed for a higher-quality cycle route network, both nationally and at the European level. Notably, the French section of EuroVelo 1, known as La Velodyssee, received EuroVelo Certification. Over the last three years, the network also expanded with over 10,000 km of new routes, reaching 67% development, though more progress is needed to meet the 2030 goal.

The EuroVelo team also focused on raising the profile of cycling tourism and networks at the political level. The European Declaration on Cycling, highlighted cycling as a sustainable tourism option. On 27 September, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) adopted the Guide for Designating Cycle Route Networks, marking a crucial milestone in the international recognition of cycling infrastructure and cycle route networks. This follows two years of fruitful collaboration within the Group of Experts on Cycling Infrastructure, of which ECF is an active member.

Velo-city 2024 Ghent – A year of records

With the theme “Connecting through Cycling,” ECF’s flagship conference Velo-city 2024 took place in Ghent from 18-21 June, celebrating how cycling unites people, places, and communities. Featuring Ghent’s 63 cycling bridges, its renowned circulation plan, an outstanding programme, and growing global enthusiasm for cycling, the event became the largest ever, attracting 1,600+ attendees, 400+ speakers and 100+ exhibitors. Keynote speaker Janette Sadik-Kahn highlighted that “cycling is evolving from an alternative for the sporty into essential transportation for everyone.” A standout moment was without a doubt the lively bike parade, organised by the Cycling Embassy of Ghent, where thousands of cyclists—locals and international attendees—rode through the city, accompanied by music and live performances.

Celebrating the cities across Europe

The third edition of the ECF Awards, taking place against the backdrop of Velo-city Ghent, recognised five outstanding achievements in cycling and active mobility:

The European Parliament received the Cycle-Friendly Employer Award for its comprehensive initiatives promoting cycling among employees.

The City of Bologna won the Road Safety Award for its 30 km/h speed limit and safety improvements, increasing cycling by 29%.

Lyon, France, earned the Cycling Improvement Award for its ambitious €500 million plan to create a fully bikeable city by 2030.

The City of Quelimane, Mozambique, was recognised for its active mobility initiatives, including the first cycle lane in the country.

Finally, the City of Ghent was honoured with the Cycling Infrastructure Award for its extensive cycling infrastructure, including the new Annie Vande Wielebrug bridge, enhancing connectivity for cyclists.

The cycling community continues to grow

In 2024, we saw the global cycling community gain strength and continue to grow. In 2024, ECF welcomed four new associate members: the Association of Slovenian e-Bikers, Batumi Cycling Network, Wheels for Wellbeing, and Active Mobility. The ECF Annual General Meeting (AGM) in 2024, co-hosted by Sindikat Biciklista in Croatia, brought together the global cycling community, alongside the support of the City of Zagreb. The Cities & Regions for Cyclists (CRC) Network saw significant increase, welcoming five new members, including the first from Slovakia, Ireland, and Lithuania, now representing over 55 million citizens. ECF's Cycle-Friendly Employer certification is also gaining momentum, with over 850 certified employers across 15 countries, benefiting more than 820,000 employees, further solidifying cycling’s place in workplaces across Europe.

Knowledge and research

In 2024, ECF released several key publications, including: