Following the Italian Chamber of Deputies' approval of the the Framework Law on Cycling Mobility with an unanimous vote, the final stage of this important process is now completed with an approval by the Italian Parliament, just before the start of the new year. 

Italy’s brand new cycling law has been approved by the Parliament at the end of the year 2017. The goal of the 'framework law is promoting the use of bicycle as an extraordinary opportunity for tourism and everyday mobility. Finally, also in Italy, cycling is going to be considered no longer as a hobby, but recognized in the same way as other means of transport, within a development strategy at national, regional and local scale. In particular, the new act includes:

• the drafting of a General Cycling Plan, Regional Cycling Plans and ‘Biciplans’ for the municipalities and metropolitan areas;
• the adoption of the National Cycle Network Bicitalia, as proposed by FIAB – Federazione Italiana Amici della Bicicletta, the Italian representative of the European Cyclists’ Federation and National EuroVelo Coordination Center;
• mandatory cycle carriage on public transport, buses included
   

According to FIAB President Giulietta Pagliaccio, “today’s achievement is the result of 30 years of long advocacy work by FIAB”. She acknowledges that Gigi Riccardi, FIAB's first president, and ECF's former president Manfred Neun, played a key roles in empowering FIAB’s leadership in Italy. FIAB also praised Paolo Gandolfi, main rapporteur of the bill, and Antonio Decaro, current ANCI (National Municipalities Association) president, who first introduced the bill as former member of the Parliament. “Now cycling is a priority”, stated Minister Graziano Delrio, who allocated 500 million in cycling related measures in the last three years (2016-2018).

Italy’s successful story is a benchmark for Mediterranean countries in Europe and it is no coincidence that the ECF Annual General Meeting 2018 will be hosted by FIAB in Milan.

Giuseppe Dimunno – FIAB