The electrification of the European bicycle fleet is in full swing, however building codes in most EU Member States are not fit for purpose due to a lack of adequate provisions on bicycle parking. The European Parliament’s Industry Committee could address this issue.

Brussels, October 6, 2017

The European Parliament’s Industry Committee will have next week Wednesday (October 11) a crucial vote on how strong a provision on bicycle parking (Amendment 405) will be included in the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (ECF reported). ECF welcomes that the revision of this Directive will be used to introduce a link to e-mobility by providing recharging infrastructure (and hence parking space), however, it is essential that cycling, being the most energy-efficient of all transport modes, receives a fair treatment compared to motorised modes.

The electrification of the bicycle sector is a mega-trend: 1.66 million electric bicycles were sold in 2016 in the EU, by the end of this year about 10 million units will populate the EU’s roads. In Belgium, half of all bicycles sold today come with electric support, whereas Bosch E-Bike Systems predicts that e-bikes will reach a market share of 65 % in Germany. The total stock of e-bikes in the EU is expected to rise to 62 million by 2030 (sales 2023 – 2030), providing energy-efficient mobility solutions for long-distance commuters, people with reduced mobility, urban logistics…

The higher cost and weight of electric bicycles compared to normal bikes increases the necessity to provide facilities to charge and securely park them, in particular in residential buildings. Yet with the exception of a few Member States such as France or Hungary, most national and regional building codes are not fit for purpose.

Therefore ECF calls on Members of the Parliament’s Industry Committee to support Amendment 405: Member States shall ensure that in all new buildings and in all buildings undergoing major renovation, at least a space for bicycles, cargo-bicycles, e-bikes, pedelec, walking frames, wheel-chairs and push-chairs is created; the space shall be common, covered, theft-protected, free of architectural barriers and proportional to the number of users of the building; the space could be created nearby the building, in case of documented technical impossibility;

After the Parliament has formulated its position, the proposed Directive will be further discussed in Trilogue between Council, Parliament, and Commission.

Links:

ECF position paper: Include (electric) bicycle parking in the revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.

Pedelection. Verlagerungs- und Klimaeffekte durch Pedelec-Nutzung im Individualverkehr. Project supported by the German Federal Ministry for Environment.