ECF's stall at the UNECE's THE PEP side event in Geneva

ECF took part in a side event organized at the Palais des Nations in Geneva during the 66th session of the United Nation’s Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) 14.4. – 16.4. 2015. ECF’s national member association Pro Velo Suisse and Cycling Industry Club member Accell Suisse were also present at the event.

The aim of the side event was to promote the Transport, Health and Environment Pan-European Programme (THE PEP) Partnership on Cycling in which ECF is a partner. THE PEP partnership was launched by the initiative of the Austrian and French Governments at the 4th high level meeting in Paris in April 2014 and its goal is to develop a pan-European Master Plan for cycling promotion and to support governments in the development of national cycling promotion policies. This partnership is a spin-off of the informal ECF network of the national cycling officers that was established during the 2011 Velo-city conference in Seville.

Cycling delivers jobs, sustainable transport and health benefits - more support is needed on international level to make full use of this potential

ECF’s Secretary General Bernhard Ensink spoke at the event’s opening ceremony on 15th of April about the important message THE PEP Partnership sends to all international bodies and institutions regarding the benefits of cycling. Cycling delivers not only sustainable, low carbon transport for billions of people and tons of goods but also jobs, economic growth and health benefits. Addressing the audience consisting of UNECE staff and national delegates, Dr Ensink said: “Cycling can deliver even much more in the future if you all help to get cycling stronger on the international agenda. We need support from the EU-28 Member States to get an EU Roadmap for Cycling. Your political mandate to have a pan-European Master Plan on Cycling by 2019 is of the utmost value in this process”.

ECF's Secretary General Dr. Bernhard Ensink delivering a speech at the UNECE THE PEP side event 15.4.2015

ECF is currently advocating the European Commission to get an EU Roadmap for Cycling firmly on its agenda. It is ECF’s believe that such a roadmap is an important instrument in removing barriers for the development of cycling in EU policies, such as on funding for infrastructure as well as for research & development projects.

ECF member Pro Velo Suisse was present at the event to highlight the local perspective in cycling promotion. The main purpose of Pro Velo Suisse is to promote the use of bicycle as a means of transport in Switzerland that in 2012 included cycling in its sustainable development strategy. Pro Velo’s Coordinator Marie-Laure Gebhard said: "This event was a perfect opportunity for Pro Velo to present its local campaigns like Bike2Work, Velo initiative and Bike2School and to share different opinions about national cycling policy with representatives from other countries”.

 Innovation and new technologies drive cycling forward – with zero C02 emissions per km

The second aim of the event was to introduce vehicles that are not run on combustion engines. Motorized vehicles have a heavy impact on air pollution which in turn has a negative impact on health. UNECE therefore emphasizes the need to set up efficient policies to replace these vehicles in heavy exposure areas with vehicles such as bicycles that comply with the latest UN regulations on emission control. To demonstrate the latest technologies and different models of bicycles developed for different uses, Accell Suisse had donated 6 different bicycle models for the event ranging from city bikes to e-bikes. Moreno Fioravanti, representative of CONEBI and the Accell Group, who also attended the event said: “We have the honor to enhance and increase the use and the safe design of bicycles, one of the biggest possible contributors to cut CO2 emissions in European cities. Together we can convince the EU and the UN Authorities that a better Europe and a better World will roll on two wheels”.

About the author

Kaisa Juosila works as a Communications Intern at ECF supporting ECF networks and partners.