Hundreds of officials representing the most active European cities in sustainable mobility attended the 15^th CIVITAS conference in Torres Vedras, Portugal. We were there, to represent cycling and keep involving new stakeholders and supporters for the EU Cycling Strategy.

Cities have a great role to play, when it comes to fight climate change, promote sustainable mobility and push the decarbonisation of the transport sector. We are glad to see so many of them are interested in the promotion of cycling as an effective way to deliver this, but we also know we need the EU to take a leading role in this space. That’s why we drafted the EU Cycling Strategy Recommendations document, a blueprint to support cycling in all EU countries and provide it a level playing field with other transport modes.

Several city representatives attended our workshop on the Cycling Strategy, helping us set recommendations for its correct implementation at the EU, national and local level. In particular, we discussed 

• the importance of a coherent policy to build the necessary cycling infrastructure;
• the efficiency of multi-modality, capable of combining several urban transportations;
• how to leverage ITS (Intelligent Transport System) and Smart City solutions to make urban cycling safer and more accessible;
• what are the available instruments to finance cycling and its promotion.

The recommendations

With the aim of understanding what cities across the EU think would be the most relevant actions to take to see more people cycling more often, we asked participants to suggest us how to move forward.

The EU level

Quite interestingly, almost everyone agreed the EU should take a more active role, either outlining universal principles to be followed by all authorities or giving guidance and developing best practices on all the topics discussed. Several participants also highlighted the need to establish minimum criteria for (EU funded) cycle infrastructure and common frameworks for the exchange of information and the development of multi-modal services. And finally, a stronger leadership was asked to make sure measures to move people out of their private cars are taken, e.g. the need to send fair price signals by internalising all external costs of car use.

The national level

National governments can also be influential in promoting cycling in many ways. First and foremost, by allocating an appropriate amount of money for the development of cycling projects and infrastructure, including both cycle lanes and secure parking spots. Secondly, by disseminating the content and best practices developed by the Commission and other EU experts among their regional and local governments. And clearly by issuing national masterplans to follow the guidelines of a coordinated EU Cycling Strategy.

The local level

Finally, also regional and local authorities have a crucial role to play, since they are the ones that can / must build the infrastructure, include a ‘bicycle check’ in Green Public Procurement tenders and Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans, make multi-modal solutions possible, implement campaigns or give financial support to promote sustainable mobility options.