ECF brings together newly elected MEPs and stakeholders of the cycling community in Brussels for a night of celebration and expectation for the future of cycling in Europe.

On September 11, ECF hosted the “Vive le Vélo” welcome reception to introduce incoming Members of the European Parliament to the Brussels cycling community and build a strong commitment towards a greener, safer and healthier Europe for all. The reception presented an opportunity for cycling advocates to emphasize the importance of recognising cycling as an equal or even preferential mode of transport at the European level, and as an effective means to decarbonise transport systems, improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion.

Featured guests from across the cycling spectrum were in attendance, from local cycling advocacy organizations and projects such as Bike2Work from Fietsersbond, GRACQ, and Pro Velo to bike-sharing industry representatives such as Swapfiets and Uber JUMP.

In close cooperation with other stakeholder groups, ECF will be contacting over the coming weeks Members of European Parliament, calling for bi-partisan cooperation and the set-up of a parliamentary Intergroup.   

Here are just a few of the highlights of the evening below:

Christophe Najdovski, ECF President and Deputy Mayor of Paris for Transportation, Mobility, Roadway and Public Space: “We must send a strong signal to policymakers that a paradigm shift for transport policy is needed. There is no time to waste, we need vocal voices in the European institutions.”

Matthew Baldwin, Deputy Director-General of DG MOVE: “We in the Commission are now strongly in favour of a European Parliament Intergroup. Let’s not limit ourselves only to active and sustainable mobility, but also include the word “safe”. Promotion is key for safe walking and safe cycling. All of this doesn’t happen by accident, but with the help of people in the ECF.”

MEP Alexandra Louise Philipps (Green): “We need a zero-carbon target by 2030 because, quite frankly, if we leave it to 2050, we are going to be under water. My idea of a green new deal is a huge amount of investment in energy efficiency, this includes investment in electric bikes.”

MEP Ciáran Cuffe (Green): “A green new deal is not new and not green unless we put more resources into sustainable mobility, such as into cycling and active mobility. I want to work with the ECF to make better cycling a reality in all of Europe.”

MEP Henna Virkkunen (EPP): “Cities play a key role in their urban planning and in their investments in cycling infrastructure. It is very important that people are really pushing cycling forward on all levels, regions, and cities in the EU.”

MEP Pernille Weiss (EPP): “I have a dream that we could create a community of cycling tourism in Europe so that we could be the safest, most energetic and vivid place in the world to go abroad and bike.”

MEP Scott Ainslie (Green): “We really need to make a seismic shift for cycling {policies}. We have a long way to go in certain part of Europe, and also in Brussels. But it is getting better thanks to your great work.”