The Global Goals, as stipulated in the preamble of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), seek to realize the human rights of all. Cycling is already delivering on these goals worldwide, and this is a good reason to invest more in cycling. Making transportation more sustainable is of critical importance for humanity and the planet. Moreover, active mobility is a human right on all scales – including the right to cycle. Governments at all levels should provide safe access to public space, protect those that walk and cycle, and ensure – through mobility – equal participation in society.
This brochure, created and published by the European Cyclists' Federation and the World Cycling Alliance, analyzes the impact of cycling on 11 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and outlines ECF/WCA's Voluntary Committment to the UN.
ECF & WCA's Voluntary Committment to the UN
The Voluntary Committment to the UN is an initiatve whereby ECF/WCA monitor cities that have committed to a targeted increase in modal share of cycling (see the most up-to-date list below). Cities that are interested in joining the list of the Voluntary Commitment can email wca@ecf.com !
| City/Region | Country | Current Modal Share | Target Modal Share |
Cycling Increase |
| Córdoba | Argentina | 1.63% by 2011 | 15% by 2020 | x9.2 |
| Sydney | Australia | 2% in 2006 | 10% 2016 | x5 |
| Melbourne | Australia | 4% in 2012 | 6% by 2016 | x1.5 |
| Adelaide | Australia | 1.5% in 2014 | 3% by 2022 | x2 |
| Canberra | Australia | 2.8% in 2011 | 7% by 2026 | x2.5 |
| Fremantle | Australia | 1% in 2011 | 2% in 2018 | x2 |
| Kärnten | Austria | 6% in 2013 | 12% by 2025 | x2 |
| Niederösterreich | Austria | 7% in 2007 | 14% by 2020 | x2 |
| Vienna | Austria | 7% in 2014 | 12% by 2020 | x1.7 |
| Brussels | Belgium | 3.6% in 2010 | 20% in 2020 | x5.6 |
| Ghent | Belgium | 22% in 2012 | 30% in 2020 | x1.3 |
| Vancouver (City) | Canada | 3.8% 2013 | 12% by 2040 | x3.2 |
| Victoria, Oak Bay, Esquimalt and urban Saanich | Canada | 5.6% in 2010 | 15% by 2026 | x2.7 |
| Ottawa | Canada | 1.7% in 2001 | 3% by 2020 | x1.8 |
| Calgary | Canada | 0.8% in 2001 | 2% in 2020 | x2.5 |
| Edmonton | Canada | 1% in 2005 | 2% by 2020 | x2 |
| Vancouver (Metro) | Canada | 3.8% 2011 | 10% by 2040 | x2.6 |
| Beijing | China | 14% in 2012 | 20% in 2020. | x1.4 |
| Taipei | Chinese Taipei | 5.5%in 2012 | 12% by 2020 | x3.6 |
| Medellín | Colombia | 0.5% in 2015 | 10% by 2030 | x20 |
| Prague | Czech Republic | 1% in 2009 | 7% by 2020 | x7 |
| Copenhagen | Denmark | 41% in 2013 | 50% by 2025 | x1.2 |
| Frederiksberg | Denmark | 30% in 2012 | 40% in 2018 | x1.3 |
| Helsinki | Finland | 11% in 2013 | 15% by 2020 | x1.4 |
| Saint Brieuc | France | 1% in 2004 | 5% by 2020 | x5 |
| Nantes | France | 5% 2012 | 15% by 2020 | x3 |
| Paris | France | 5% in 2015 | 15% by 2020 | x3 |
| Strasbourg | France | 8% in 2009 | 20% by 2020 | x2.5 |
| Dusselforf | Germany | 5% in 2004 | 11% by 2020 | x2.2 |
| Leipzig | Germany | 14.4% in 2008 | 20% by 2020 | x1.4 |
| Hanover | Germany | 13% in 2002 | 25% by 2025 | x1.9 |
| Baden-Württemberg | Germany | 10% in 2015 | 20% by 2025 | x2 |
| Berlin | Germany | 13% by 2014 | 20% by 2025 | x1.5 |
| Hamburg | Germany | 12% in 2008 | 25%by 2030 | x2.1 |
| Karlsruhe | Germany | 25% in 2012 | 30% by 2020 | x1.2 |
| Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Germany | 14% in 2008 | 20% by 2020 | x1.4 |
| Munich | Germany | 17% in 2011 | 20% by 2015 | x1.2 |
| Stuttgart | Germany | 7% in 2010 | 20% by 2020 | x2.8 |
| Thessaloniki | Greece | 1% in 2008 | 10% in 2020 | x10 |
| Budapest | Hungary | 2% in 2010 | 10% by 2020 | x5 |
| Dublin | Ireland | 7% in 2011 | 25% by 2020 | x3.5 |
| Limerick | Ireland | 3% in 2011 | 14% by 2016 | x4.7 |
| Parma | Italy | 11% in 2005 | 40% by 2020 | x3.6 |
| Rome | Italy | 0.6% in 2012 | 4% by 2019 | x6.7 |
| Luxembourg | Luxembourg | 3.5% in 2011 | 10% by 2020 | x2.8 |
| Groningen | Netherlands | 47% in 2003 | 65% by 2020 | x1.3 |
| Lima | Peru | 0.03% in 2015 | 2% by 2018 | x66.7 |
| Bratislava | Slovakia | 2% in 2012 | 10% in 2020 | x5 |
| Ljubljana | Slovenia | 10% in 2010 | 15% by 2020 | x1.5 |
| Seoul | South Korea | 1.6% in 2008 | 10% by 2020 | x6.25 |
| Andalucia | Spain | 1.4% in 2014 | 15% of motorized traffic by 2020 | x10.7 |
| Granada | Spain | 0.4% by 2011 | 15% by 2020 | x37.5 |
| Guipuzcoa | Spain | 2.4 by 2011 | 5% by 2022 | x2.1 |
| Madrid | Spain | 1% in 2012 | 3% by 2016 | x3 |
| Malaga | Spain | 0.4% by 2011 | 15% by 2020 | x37.5 |
| Seville | Spain | 9% by 2013 | 15% by 2020 | x1.7 |
| Gothenburg | Sweden | 7% in 2011 | 12 % by 2025 | x1.7 |
| Stockholm | Sweden | 10% in 2012 | 18% by 2030 | x1.8 |
| Zürich | Switzerland | 7% in 2011 | 14% by 2025 | x2 |
| London | United Kingdom | 2% in 2011 | 5% by 2026 | x2.5 |
| Bristol | United Kingdom | 14% in 2011 | 20% by 2020 | x1.4 |
| Cambridge | United Kingdom | 15% in 2013 | 40% by 2023 | x2.6 |
| Edinburgh | United Kingdom | 2% in 2010 | 10% by 2020 | x5 |
| Glasgow (Children) | United Kingdom | 3.5% in 2008 | 7% by 2025 | x2 |
| Greenwich (London Borough) | United Kingdom | 2% in 2014 | 5% by 2026 | x2.5 |
| Oxford | United Kingdom | 17% in 2014 | 25% by 2020 | x1.5 |
| Southwark (London Borough) | United Kingdom | 4.6% in 2015 | 10% by 2025 | x2.2 |
| Portland | United States of America | 6% in 2010 | 25% by 2030 | x4.2 |
| Philadelphia | United States of America | 1.6% in 2009 | 6.5% by 2020 | x4 |