Summer is already way ahead, and we are taking the opportunity to reflect on our member’s highlights and milestones from the first part of 2018.

January proved to be a busy start to 2018 with a lot of advocacy successes in cycling. In Italy, FIAB started the New Year with an advocacy triumph, as the national government acknowledged cycling as a legitimate means of transport, and passed new legislation calling for the promotion of cycling in all levels of government. FIAB president Giulietta Pagliaccio reacted by stating that “today’s achievement is the result of 30 years of long advocacy work by FIAB”. This is a major accomplishment and sets a benchmark for other Mediterranean countries within Europe.

In Belarus, the Minsk Cycling Community also spent January celebrating their own advocacy progress. As a direct result of the organization’s perseverance and hard work and the ECF Leadership Programme, the Belarusian government adopted an official concept of cycling development.

Another member of ECF to successfully promote cycling at the start of the year was the Kyiv Cyclists’ Association. In February the Kyiv City Council approved the Kyiv Cycling Concept, which heavily relied upon the Kyiv Cyclists’ Association’s recommendations. The Association predicts that the modal share of cycling in the Ukrainian capital will double as a result. This progress affirms how advocacy work can lead to quantifiable direct change, and is a huge achievement. 

With the onset of March came snow to Europe’s streets and the establishment of Bosnia’s second city bike sharing scheme, as a direct result of the Center for Environment’s efforts in Banja Luka, another member of the ECF Leadership Programme. The organization is now turning its attention to the city’s infrastructure and lack of cycling routes. 

Also in March, the French member FUB made strides towards establishing itself as a global cycling lobby. Its Annual General Meeting drew 190 cycling experts to Lyon from across France, to discuss their vision for 2030 and how to solidify their position as a leading cycling lobbyist on the global stage.

May finally saw the cold relenting and the return of sunnier skies, just in time for a series of cycling events across the continent. In Copenhagen, the Danish Cyclists’ Federation held a Bikeable City Masterclass for urban planners and decision makers. Bicycle planners and cycling enthusiasts descended on the Latvian capital for the Latvian Cyclists’ Union’s Riga Cycling Conference, which explored the integration of cycling into national strategies.

ECF’s Annual General Meeting this year successfully brought our members together in Milan, for a development workshop and an exchange of cycling advocacy experience, ideas and challenges. ECF was delighted to formally induct during the meeting three new members to the Network, welcome again to Cyklocoalicia, the Czech Cyclists Federation and Propulsione Umana.

The third day of June was declared by the United Nations to be the first World Bicycle Day and many of our members across the world responded with a full force of celebrations and festivities. Parades were a popular choice. The Bicycle Advocacy Group lead cyclists through the beautiful Maltese city of Mosta, the young and old ventured out with Cycle SA into wintery Adelaide, and Velo Quebec steered thousands of colorful bicycles through the streets of Montreal.

Many members headed to Rio de Janeiro in June for Velo-city 2018, the premier global cycling conference. A host of speakers across the four days addressed pertinent advocacy topics, such as unlocking big funds for cycling projects and different approaches to launching cycling campaigns. In one session on cycling advocacy around the world, one of the very successful participants of the Leadership Programme, FUB, outlined how they had grown from a not well known and poorly represented organization, to a national leader on cycling advocacy. FUB President, Olivier Schneider, shared with the participants how ‘building the right allies is a really important aspect of good advocacy’.

In July our new member, the Czech Cyclists Federation, launched the Czech Cyclelobarometer. This innovative project evaluates the country’s best and worst cities for cycling, using the results of a survey which asks participants to rate their area’s cyclability. This inspirational example of advocacy work challenges municipalities to improve their cycling infrastructure and road safety, and provides feedback on what needs to be improved from the cyclists themselves.