On Wednesday 23 March, Elke Van den Brandt, the cycling-friendly Mobility Minister of Brussels-Capital Region, was one of several high-level guests at the inauguration of the EuroVelo 5 – Via Romea (Francigena) cycle route in Brussels. Speaking to an audience of cycling advocates, journalists and policymakers at the Parc du Cinquantenaire (Jubelpark), on the doorstep of the EU institutions in Brussels, she emphasised the importance of cycling to create connections and peace in Europe:

“Now more than ever, we know the importance of a connected EU and a connected European community,” said Van den Brandt in reference to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The speech was given shortly before the unveiling of a new EuroVelo 5 route sign at the park’s entrance to inaugurate the 3,200 km cycle route that goes from Italy to the UK through the heart of the EU capital. The route is part of EuroVelo, the world’s largest cycle route network, which criss-crosses 42 countries to make it easier for people in Europe to travel by bike and take up daily cycling.

Transforming urban mobility

People who don’t cycle on a regular basis often cite a perceived lack of safety as the reason. However, this can be addressed by public authorities investing in more and safer cycling infrastructure – and using EuroVelo routes as a backbone for the creation of local, regional and national cycle route networks.

In cities like Brussels, which is traversed by EuroVelo 5, cycling has an enormous potential as one of the easiest, most sustainable and cost-efficient ways to get around town, said Van den Brandt: “If we cycle more, there will be less congestion, better air quality, quieter city, nicer and more inviting – which will encourage people to stay. This is our final goal.”

To make cycling in Brussels a less messy experience, creating “nice, inviting, safe infrastructure” is necessary, emphasised the Mobility Minister, who has already done much to transform the notoriously car-centric Belgian capital into a more cycling-friendly city.

Connecting Europe with EuroVelo

To support the transformation towards more active and sustainable mobility in cities as well as in rural areas, the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) is working to persuade EU policymakers to integrate cycling and the EuroVelo network into the EU’s flagship Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) policy.

EuroVelo isn’t just a collection of nice routes to ride a bicycle. It is already an integral part of many of the regional and local networks that people in Europe use to move about in their daily lives. EuroVelo benefits commuters, tourists and recreational cyclists alike, and including it in the TEN-T would ensure more EU investments in cycling infrastructure.

“ECF is currently calling for the EuroVelo network to be integrated into the TEN-T European transport network. (…) This cycle route is not only an important connection for people commuting to their work place or the city centre, it is not just part of the expanding regional cycle route network at the Brussels region. It also connects Belgium to the rest of our continent,” said ECF CEO Jill Warren at the inauguration.

“It is exciting to think that the person you overtake on your daily commute might be on their way to Namur, Lille, Basel or Milan,” she added.

Walter Goetz, Head of Cabinet for European Commissioner for Transport Adina Vălean, agreed that the Commission has an important role to play in ensuring that member states also consider cycling when planning or proposing large infrastructure projects within the TEN-T regulation.

“Another concrete commitment stems from our Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans, where cities that have more than 100,000 citizens must specify how they would like to increase the share of cycling within the transport system,” he said at the event.

Including adjacent safe cycling infrastructure in TEN-T project would encourage people all over Europe to drive less and cycle more, freeing road space and improving the overall transport network’s connectivity, efficiency and sustainability. This also goes perfectly hand in hand with the European Green deal.

“Hundreds of millions of Europeans use bicycles for daily journeys, leisure, holidays and sport, and we have to make sure the European legislation is up to date,” said Member of the European Parliament Anna Deparnay-Grunenberg, who also talked about what she could do as member of the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism.

“We want to step in with the spirit of the European Green Deal,” she added, pointing to the need for member states to provide safe cycling infrastructure if Europe is to achieve its climate objectives.

A logical match: TEN-T, cycling and EuroVelo

Cycling has enormous potential to contribute to the objectives of the European Green deal by alleviating congestion, expanding the catchment area of public transport and decarbonising both daily commuting and tourism. However, this requires the right policies and investment in safe infrastructure.

The inclusion of EuroVelo into TEN-T would ensure that EuroVelo routes continue seamlessly through urban nodes and rural areas, and that cycling infrastructure is more efficiently and cheaply included in TEN-T projects from the outset and not as – too often – a poorly executed afterthought. Moreover, using EuroVelo route as a backbone to national and regional cycle route networks increases local or regional cycling levels and revenue for businesses along the routes.

For the benefits of commuters, tourists and the climate, ECF will continue advocating for the inclusion of EuroVelo and cycling in the TEN-T to ensure that the EU’s flagship transport policy is as strong as possible and helps meet the objectives of the European Green Deal.