The #CyclingAdvocates Series is a collection of best practices and success stories from visionary cycling activists and leaders contributing to making Cycling in Europe better, safer and more common. We are going to be inviting some of them to share their thoughts and visions with ECF.com in the coming months.

Administrative deficiencies, fear of the negative reaction of citizens, difficulties in accessing funding, although in theory all municipalities benefit from pre-allocated funds, as well as disregarding the importance given to Mobility Plans, are just some of the problems identified by Sustainable Mobility Forum speakers, a landmark conference organised by Renovatio, Green Revolution and Idea Events, in Bucharest.

"Most municipalities have old public transport systems, so we can take advantage of the opportunity to attract non-refundable funds, structural funds dedicated to Romania and, municipalities in particular can also benefit from pre-allocated funds, therefore there isn’t even a competition between them. The rest of the municipalities have enough funds for coherent projects worth dozens of millions of Euros", explained Radu Andronic, General Manager FIP Consulting.

He also underlined the authorities' reluctance in informing citizens about their plans in terms of implementing mobility projects, out of fear that they will generate a negative reaction. However, it is this lack of communication in particular that creates a tense relation between authorities and citizens.

According to Raluca Fişer, ECF Vice President and President of Green Revolution Association, cities in Romania need a smart mobility mix that meets the needs of citizens with no extremes - only bicycles or just cars or just public transport.

We had 2.3 million unique customers in ten years, in the cities where we are present with I’Velo (bike-sharing system initiated by Raiffeisen Bank and Green Revolution). It is an impressive number that tells us that there is demand, there is a market. What makes them not to use a bicycle outside a bike-sharing system is the lack of infrastructure and safety. We had and we have people learning to ride our bikes in the parks to feel safe. It is important for the authorities to understand that these people have the right to vote. The biggest barriers we face today are political indecision and lack of political courage to say "I prioritize a sustainable and efficient transport in the city I administer", said Raluca Fișer.

Bicycle tracks in Bucharest completed in November

The development of the bicycle path network in Bucharest will be completed by November and other projects will be launched next year, stated Sorin Chiriţă, city manager of Bucharest.

"We have started and it is on going a network of bicycle tracks. This will continue also next year. We will implement the entire bicycle network of the Mobility Plan. Until November, the 72 kilometers of bicycle track will be completed. There are no delays on this project", said Sorin Chiriţă.

The General Council of the Bucharest Municipality approved in early June 2018 a project for the implementation of three bicycle routes in the central area of Bucharest.

Execution time is estimated at six months. The width of the unidirectional bands will be 1.2 - 1.5 m, and the bidirectional bands will be 2.5 - 3 m.