What a great year for cycling! With the support of our members, partners and friends, ECF worked on numerous different project with one common goal: make cycling stronger. We have a long way ahead, but the work is paying off. Cycling is ready to move society forward to a FINANCIALLY and environmentally more sustainable world. We invite you to see some highlights of ECF’s work for 2014 that we collected with great difficulty; working with cycling offers quite a few spectacular moments. Enjoy!

REPORTS

In December ECF published its Cycling for Growth plan, which is composed of three studies that look at the crucial topic of cycling economics:
-  Jobs creation,
-  Fiscal incentives &
-  European funding.
The studies are published in the context of the €300bn European Investment Plan for jobs and growth announced by the European Commission - ECF wants cycling included.

EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS

2014 was a very successful year for the development of ECF's relations with the European institutions. It being an election year, ECF published aEuropean Manifesto and surveyed MEP candidates on their views regarding this manifesto. It culminated in the launch of Cycling Forum Europe at the European Parliament this autumn, an event attended by Ms Bulc, the new EU Transport Commissioner.

LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME

ECF believes that small visionary organisations can produce greatness if provided with guidance and support. Together with a grant secured by ECF’s industry partners, the participant organisations of Leadership Programme received extensive training on  for stronger national advocacy. ECF proudly presents you some of their achievements!

GLOBAL ADVOCACY

The World Cycling Alliance (WCA), the global network initiated by ECF, wasofficially launched at Velo-city Global 2014 in Adelaide in May this year. Its objective is to bring the cycling agenda to the global level, notably to the United Nations and OECD. The WCA was notably represented at the COP20 Climate negotiations in Lima.

CYCLING INDUSTRY

In 2014, collaboration between industry and advocacy reached new heights! Tony Grimaldi, President of Cycleurope, and Raymond Gense from PON represented the cycling industry for the first time on the EU stage by speaking at the launch of Cycling Forum Europe.
The Cycling Industry Club also grew during the year, with five new members joining, including Shimano, the biggest bicycle parts manufacturer in the world.

 VELO-CITY 2015

Next stop... Nantes! We're already getting ready for the next Velo-city in Nantes in 2015 where you will find out about all the new trends about cycling.
Recent developments from the scientific world will also be addressed at the premier meeting on cycling worldwide!
Log onto the conference website for info & registration.

EUROVELO 15

ECF is proud to have inaugurated its first fully-certified EuroVelo route. That means the entire route was certified by ECF: to achieved this, routes must be fully signposted, safe, comfortable and attractive. EuroVelo 15, spanning 4 countries and running along one of Europe's great rivers, the Rhine, is already a popular cycling destination and this certification will attract even more tourists to the region.

The route was launched at a conference in Basel during the autumn.

BOOKS FOR CHRISTMAS!

We have some great book reviews for you, including Carlton Reid's latest publication, Roads were not built for cars. It is for anyone wanting a comprehensive review of how our roads entered what we might call the “modern era”. They should look no further than this highly enjoyable read!
Click here for the full review, and more!