The EU’s transport and environment ministers gathered yesterday for the first time together in an informal Council meeting in Amsterdam to discuss ‘smart’ and ‘green’ transport. While the Dutch EU Presidency also kicked-off the great ‘Cycling Festival Europe 2016’ with lots of events across Europe, cycling was not much a part of the official ministerial agenda. However, it should have been.

If the EU is to achieve its objective on decarbonizing transport (a 60 % GHG emission reduction by 2050 compared to 1990), it needs to unlock all possible tools that can deliver. Technological solutions alone, studies show, will not bring the emission cuts needed, a modal shift both in passenger and freight transport has to be part of this toolbox too. Shift policies have proven to work, to be very cost-effective and to green the economy. A ECF report found that if all Europeans would cycle by 2050 at Danish levels, between 63 and 142 million tonnes of CO2e could be saved annually, representing 12 to 26% of the target reduction set for the transport sector.

Shift enablers are increasingly out there: about 6.5 million electric bicycles currently populate EU’s roads (state: end 2015), more than 1.3 million units were sold in 2015 alone. New types of infrastructure (cycle highways), vehicles (cargo bikes) but also a behavioural change among EU citizens add to the picture.

Numerous towns and cities, regions and Member States have adopted ambitious cycling strategies over the past 10-15 years. By adopting the ‘Declaration of Luxembourg on cycling as a climate friendly mode of transport’ during the Luxembourg EU Presidency in October 2015, national transport ministers have recommended the EU to develop a ‘EU level strategic document on cycling’ as well.

ECF strongly recommends that the EU will include in its forthcoming Communication on the Decarbonisation of Transport an action point as regards the development and adoption of a ‘EU level strategic document on cycling’ at the latest by the end of 2017.

For further information you can download ECF’s position paper.