Italy has finally stepped up its cycling game – and CosmoBike, the greatest bicycle fair in Italy, just proved it. With 60.000 visitors over seven days of conferences and exhibitions, CosmoBike showed everyone how much Italy can still contribute to the evolution and growth of cycling.

“What is happening in Italy was not possible just 4 years ago” said Kevin Mayne, ECF’s Director of Development, after attending to the fair. “Cycling is coming back on top of the political agenda and CosmoBike is the perfect illustration that there is considerable supressed demand. I am positively impressed: the feeling is cycling mode share can rise quite steeply, if the supply of infrastructure meets the demand. Recognition for this success must go to FIAB, they have created the conditions for change and are ready to progress cycling in Italy to new level”.

In fact, the work of the Leadership Programme, funded by the Cycling Industry Club in order to improve advocacy activities and organisations at the national level, is giving its results. Italy is closer than ever to the approval of a National Cycling Plan; last year over € 90 million were deployed for cycling infrastructure and tourism; and the Bicycle-Friendly Enterprises Club (CIAB) is collecting numerous supporters. This year, hundreds of private companies and public agencies have joined the Bike2Work project: among them, the Prime Minister Renzi’s cabinet, Milan’s and Turin’s newly elected mayor and team, Vincenzo Nibali, Ferrovie dello Stato (the Italian railway system), etc.

These are not just single episodes: there's a story here. Italy is at a turning point.

“Cycling is a mean of transport, and it should be perceived and considered as such” said Manfred Neun, ECF President, at the official kick-off of the event. “In this perspective, cycling must be a high level political pillar in the top authorities’ agenda. The economic turnover of urban cycling can reach € 5 billion annually, in Europe: let’s work together to unlock this huge opportunity”.

And for the first time in maybe 20 years, the political response to these calls is positive. Paolo Gandolfi, MP for the Democratic Party now in power, has been promoting cycling for a decade, and is ready to move it to the next level: "We want to see a real change in our cities. The car monopole on our streets has shown all its shortcomings: now we need political engagement to change this, and either we do it now or we will be forever late".