ADFC (German Cyclists Association) has been campaigning for the modernisation and urgently needed reform of laws and regulations that were prioritising motor vehicles and preventing the sustainable transformation of municipalities. ADFC had even introduced its own draft bill. The Reform of the Road Traffic Act (StVG) was finally passed in June 2024, enabling local authorities to build protected lanes, cycle streets and more 30 km/h zones without further bureaucratic delays. Shortly afterwards, in October 2024, the amended Road Traffic Regulations (StVO) came into force, making it easier for local authorities to promote cycling altogether. Having a much more favourable legal framework would make it easier for cities to tap into Germany’s potential to triple the share of cycling on routes up to 30km by 2035 and reduce local traffic emissions by 34%, as evidenced by a study commissioned by ADFC. The study provides scientific evidence that Germany can become a world-leading 'bicycle country plus' by 2035, where people can enjoy cycling safely and securely for approximately half their journeys. Finally, In November 2024, the ADFC Federal General Assembly in Nuremberg adopted an amendment to the statutes that will allow the youth organization “Junger ADFC” to be founded next year, thus further strengthening the role of young people in the organisation.

For Cycling UK, 2024 was very much about advocacy action around the General Election and the first 100 days of the new UK Labour Government, including relationship-building with incoming parliamentarians and cross-departmental government missions, particularly around health, which provided engagement opportunities with various Ministers. Furthermore, Cycling UK commissioned a study evidencing the benefits of cycling to persuade the incoming government to prioritise investments in cycling. Cycling UK has called for the 10% investment commitment in active travel to be delivered across all four nations of the UK. Promisingly, £100m were put back into the active travel budget for England this autumn, however, there have been disappointing cuts to active travel funding in Scotland. In Wales, excellent data has been collected on the impact of 20mph speed limits, signalling significant progress toward making cycling safer. 20mph has also been on the agenda in Northern Ireland, where Cycling UK has been making the case to the Minster to extend 20mph beyond school zones.

Photo credit Left: ADFC // Right: Cycling UK

The Danish Cyclists’ Federation has also been advocating extensively for lower speed limits in cities, with their campaign “30 is the new 50” receiving national media attention. Currently, municipalities must apply to reduce speeds in an urban zone. The campaign calls for 30km/h to be the new starting point, so municipalities will have to apply to raise their speed limit instead. The Danish Cyclists’ Federation has also been lobbying for regulations of the so-called fat bikes, stronger efforts against bicycle theft, as well as better tax incentives to promote cycling in companies since Denmark is among the only EU countries that do not have such tax initiatives to promote the purchase, rental or leasing of bicycles. Despite the lack of fiscal incentives, the federation saw the largest participation in their Bike to work campaign for many years. Finally, the Danish Cyclists Federation has conducted a study 'Cycling for all', together with the Danish Centre for Disability Studies, which shows that people with disabilities all too often experience challenges that prevent them from cycling. Therefore, the federation is placing a strong focus on improving the conditions for people with disabilities to cycling.

Lower speed limits remain a key advocacy activity across Europe this year, with Fietsersbond Netherlands launching a petition calling on the government to take immediate action and enforce 30 km/h as the legal default maximum speed within cities and villages, to invest in better and safer infrastructure as well as to invest in stricter traffic enforcement. The petition has collected 20,000 signatures at the time of writing this article and will be delivered to the Dutch Parliament on 17 December 2024. Fietsersbond Netherlands will continue this campaign in 2025.

Fietsersbond Belgium has significantly contributed to the realisation of important milestones for cycling advocacy this year, having played a key role in shaping the updated traffic regulations set to take effect on 1 September 2026, which will make streets safer and more accessible to cyclists. Examples of the positive adjustments include crossing an intersection diagonally with a green square, turning left on red in addition to the existing turning right on red permission, and a ban on cars stopping on cycle paths. This is a welcome win that provides an answer to the increasingly important place that the bicycle occupies on public roads. In addition, Fietsersbond Belgium collaborated on the launch of MyBike platform a central national bicycle register, an important step in the fight against bicycle theft. Finally, the Bike for Life campaign was another success, with over 3,500 rides registered and an incredible €58,000 raised for Fietsersbond’s project fund Een Fiets voor Iedereen (A bicycle for everyone).

Photo credit Left: Fietsersbond Belgium // Right: FIAB

FIAB has had a very challenging year due to strong opposition to cycling on the national level in Italy but has been committed to the wave of mobilisations against the “Highway Code” reform together with multiple associations and trade unions, has defended the “City 30” programme that was under attack and has done a great deal of communications work to raise awareness among the general public and decision-makers against disinformation. However it hasn’t been all disappointment, as FIAB made great progress on important projects and campaigns regarding cycling for youth, local authorities as well as cycle tourism. Specifically, FIAB partnered with UNICEF to promote cycling among young people, and organised more than 300  Bimbimbici events across Italy to help and promote cycling with children and their families. FIAB organised a record-breaking seventh edition of its ComuniCiclabili project which aims to make municipalities cycle-friendly, bringing together 179 municipalities representing 20% of the country’s population, as well as a very successful third edition of the National cycling tourism promotion days. Finally, FIAB upgraded from a National EuroVelo Coordinator to a National EuroVelo Coordination Centre in Italy and is looking forward to next year for improvements and developments for the network!

For our French member, FUB, 2024 was marked by the tragic death of Paul, a 27-year-old cyclist killed in Paris by a motorist, which prompted a wave of tributes across France. Tens of thousands of people gathered in more than 300 towns and cities, well beyond the cycling community, to denounce motorised violence. FUB has launched a platform for collecting testimonies to call on the government to set a clear target: zero deaths and zero serious injuries on the roads. Beyond road safety, FUB is working tirelessly on cycling education and encouraging local authorities to implement cycling initiatives in schools, and has published an advocacy note titled Schools, a springboard to the cycling city. FUB has also published a position paper to guide public authorities to work towards cycle-friendly cities by setting out the advantages of a Réseau Express Vélo (REV) - Express Bicycle Network, and proposing avenues of action for setting them up in all French urban areas. FUB has also published two reports in collaboration with key partners on cycling as a solution to transport poverty and purchasing power. Mobility poverty in rural areas is on the rise across France, with more than one in four people having difficulty getting around. Meanwhile, concerns over purchasing power are increasing and ever-present, with the cost of transport being an indispensable part of the discussion. To this end, FUB co-published the report Rural areas: a lack of mobility and the survey Walking and cycling: solutions for purchasing power, health and the environment. 

Photo credit Left: FUB // Right: Steffen Vadla, Kolumbus

The Norwegian Cyclists’ Association has had a very exciting year, having organised a highly successful edition of its bi-annual event, the National Cycling Conference, last September in Stavanger, Norway. The conference gathered more than 350 people and included high-level speakers including the Norwegian Minister for Transport. During the conference, the Norwegian Cyclists’ Association presented the results of its bi-annual nationwide survey, culminating in the awarding of Stavanger as Norway’s Best Cycling City! Finally, the association launched its Cycling Business Network, aiming to connect businesses with a model linked to cycling, such as Ampluiz (safe charging for electrical bicycles), Baia Mobility (improving cycling infrastructure) and PodBike (innovative bicycle with weather protection). 

ECF has over 70 member organisations across more than 45 countries in Europe and beyond, welcoming four new associate members in 2024; Association of Slovenian e-Bikers (Slovenia), Batumi Cycling Network (Georgia), Wheels for Wellbeing (UK), Active Mobility (Albania). The ECF family came together once more for the ECF Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2024, kindly co-hosted by ECF Croatian member Sindikat Biciklista, with the participation and support of our Cities & Regions for Cyclists network member City of Zagreb.