An exciting year for ECF’s members full of advocacy successes, cycling events, and new initiatives is drawing to an end. Here is a quick glimpse at just a few of the highlights. 

Becoming a Cycling Nation

The work of our members on a regional level keeps on translating to national policies, bringing cycling forward as a daily mode of transportation.

New Finnish Government to Increase Cycling by 30%. Things are really moving and shaking for cycling in Finland. And in the midst of all of this are our Finnish Members, Pyöräliitto.The new Finnish government took office in June 2019 with the ambitious goal of increasing cycling and walking by 30% in 2030. By 2035, the Nordic country should achieve zero-carbon emissions.

Advocacy Success in France: Cycling Established as a Mode of Transport: The revolution is on the move in France! Cycling and walking becomes a legal right. After months of fierce debate, the French National Assembly approved the Mobility Orientation Law on June 18th, 2019.

Portugal Makes Way for Bicycle Paths: Portuguese government approves their National Strategy for Active Cycling Mobility (ENMAC 2020-2030), aiming to build 8,000 kilometers of new bicycle paths by 2030.

The Rise of the E-Bike

Europeans are falling in love with e-bikes because they make longer commutes easier, allow you to pedal in normal clothing, give you an up-hill boost and make cycling accessible to the elderly. However, as they are more expensive than conventional bikes, it needs the help of financial incentives to unlock their true potential. And our members are making it happen.

MUBi unlocks Financial Incentives for E-Bikes in Portugal : Following MUBi’s advocacy work at the Portuguese Parliamentary Groups and Government, the Portuguese National Government has created a fund in 2019 for financial incentives for the purchase of electric assisted bicycles (Pedelecs).

Belgian Parliament calls for reduced VAT on bike and e-bike sales: Fulfilling a longstanding demand of the Belgian ECF member organisations GRACQ and Fietsersbond, the Finance Commission of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives called for a reduction of VAT tax on e-bike sales from 21% to 6%. For the decision to become effective, a change of EU legislation is necessary. Next year, ECF and its members will continue advocating for a shift to more sustainable taxation regimes for the mobility sector as a whole.

Taking Intermodality to New Heights

Poorly thought-out transport interchanges can be a major deterrent to people using sustainable forms of transport. Ultimately, this limits the movement of European citizens and indirectly promotes unsustainable modes of transport. To reduce the carbon footprint of transport and meet the mobility demands of citizens, it is crucial to push for intermodal transport options.

FIAB puts bicycles on Italian trains: During the summer, the Italian cycling advocates at FIAB wrote to the Minister for Transport Danilo Toninelli, calling for a future-proof upgrade of the national trains. And he listened. As of 2020, all new InterCity trains will have dedicated space for 6 bicycles.

On the buses: Combining cycling and public transport in Scotland. The bus operator Borders Buses has just implemented the first fully bike-friendly local bus route in Scotland where riders can now wheel their bicycles directly on board. This good practice of integrating cycling with public transport – combining active and mass mobility – delivers the best of both worlds. Our member Sustrans, collaborated with the bus company to make sure their proactive approach was supported with cyclists’ real needs.

Tackling Climate Change

Cycling is an efficient and pollution-free mode of transport. To effectively fight climate change, countries must tap into its potential. Our national members are putting their weight behind this and fight for the recognition of cycling in climate policies.

Cycling fully-fledged part of Dutch climate policy. To address climate disruption, the Dutch government presented its Climate Agreement on 28 June 28^th, 2019. With the most tangible result for cycling being 75 million euros for bicycle parking at public transport hubs. The Dutch cycling association and ECF member Fietsersbond, argued along time for the promotion of the bicycle as an indispensable link in the Dutch mobility system.

Pedaling to Empowerment

Cycling is not only great for the environment and health but addresses equity and strengthens social integration.

Pedalling for Inclusion in Copenhagen: Cyclist.ie – the Irish Cycling Advocacy Network (Ireland) and Foreningen Frie Fugle, Denmark collaborated closely in the The Erasmus+ project “Sustainable Mobility, Sustainable Community”, which promotes social inclusion, inter-generational relationships

Free Cycling Lessons Empower Immigrants in Finland: The Finnish Cyclist’s Federation (Pyöräliitto) started the “Immigrants on bike” project in February 2018. The project aims to teach immigrants to cycle to help them integrate into the bike loving nation.