Hungarian transport minister Pál Völner has officially declared support for the National cycling charter that seven Hungarian cycling NGOs have produced in close cooperation with ECF.

Pál Völner, the Hungarian minister of state for transport and infrastructure, has officially recognized the Hungarian cycling charter on Tuesday, 17 September. The charter has been developed by the national cycling round table, a cooperation of seven Hungarian cycling NGOs and ECF that has been recognized by the national government.

The Charter proposes to the government to ask for €200 million in direct EU funding for cycling and another €200 million in indirect funding. The cycling roundtable hopes to increase the share of cycling in Hungary from 19% to 22% or more, and make Hungary one of the most cycling-friendly countries in Europe. Hungary already has one of the highest modal shares of cycling.

The minister’s signature means the national government of Hungary supports the plan and will delegate administration officials in order to discuss the implementation of the charter with members of the cycling round table. The charter has been developed with coaching by ECF on how to lobby for cycling support effectively and following the guidelines of ECF’s €6 billion campaign.

“This is another success story for Hungarian cycling advocates and ECF,” says ECF director Adam Bodor. “It shows that if ECF and local advocacy organizations work together effectively, we can even get national transport ministers to sign up and invest into cycling.”

 The signing of the charter is an example of how national advocacy organizations can get their national governments to free up EU funding in order to improve cycling in their country. ECF is promoting such action with its €6 billion campaign, aimed at freeing up funds from the proposed EU budget that could be used to improve cycling in Europe.

Notes to editors