Do you remember how it felt the first time you rode a bike?

In September 2021, Jill Warren, CEO of the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF), delivered an inspiring speech about her personal relationship with cycling and on the benefits and evolution of cycling in Europe, using Brussels, the de facto EU capital, as a specific example. The video is now available for all to see on the TEDx Talks YouTube channel.

With an audience of over 34 million subscribers, this was a great opportunity for Warren to showcase the benefits of cycling on both an individual and societal level. “Just imagine what it could be like in Brussels in five or ten years if many more people understand that much more cycling is the key, not only to climate neutrality, but liveability,” asserted Warren during her presentation.

In Brussels, more people are beginning to choose cycling in their daily mobility. But the lack of cycling infrastructure in certain areas discourages daily cycling and potential cyclists. Throughout her presentation, Warren referred to the wholescale benefits that can result from more cycling. Basing much of her argument on ECF’s “The benefits of cycling” publication, she highlighted how the positives of more cycling encompass sustainability, economic and health benefits.

Image courtesy of TEDxBrusselsSalon

Cycling on a personal level

Looking back on her lifelong cycling experience, Warren spoke about the most valuable thing she owned as a child: her bicycle. Whether as a tourist or an everyday cyclist, some of the happiest moments of her life were spent on a bicycle. She also touched upon the personal impact cycling has had on her life:

“My father died of a heart attack at the age of 51, when I was a teenager,” explained Warren. “My sister had a heart attack at age 42. My mother and my sister both have type two diabetes. It is very possible that cycling for my daily mobility and recreation has kept me from the same fate.”

The many benefits of cycling

Warren explained that cycling instead of using a car can be a useful step in reducing our carbon footprint and preserving the environment, as it contributes to reducing both CO2 emissions and air and noise pollution.

According to ECF’s estimates, cycling prevents over 18,000 premature deaths a year in Europe and contributes to healthier lives by preventing cardiovascular disease, type two diabetes, osteoporosis and certain kinds of types of cancer. This translates to an economic benefit of over €52 billion a year.

On an individual level, cycling is an affordable and accessible mode of transportation, and globally, cycling reduces costs associated with CO2 emissions, air and noise pollution. All together, these savings add up to approximately €1.3 billion in Europe.

Rounding off her presentation, Warren encouraged European authorities to prioritise cycling as an essential part of the mobility mix, arguing that this is the only way to get more people to cycle daily and that enabling more cycling really is a no-brainer: “We could have citizens who are healthier and more active at all ages and have a better sense of well-being.”

Watch ECF CEO Jill Warren’s TEDx Talk here.