More cycling - Its role in the climate debate and transport policy!
ECF Annual General Meeting – Berne, 19th May 2007
ECF members gathered in Berne recognise that global climate change is now among the greatest threats to human civilisation: we have joined to issue the following statement:
- The ECF welcomes the recognition by European parliamentarians and administrators of the importance of the climate change threat. We welcome Europe’s commitment to lead the world in carbon emissions reduction. And we welcome the recognition that transport is central to climate change policy.
- The bicycle is the most important zero emission vehicle. Therefore cycling should be heavily promoted as effective sustainable transport. We challenge the assumption that technological progress and the development of new fuels alone will deliver the carbon emissions reduction needed in the transport sector.
- The ECF position is that cycling must be accepted as an equal and often preferable mode of transport. The bicycle has to be incorporated into all other areas of transport policy, ensuring easy combination of modes of transport (full inter-modality).
- The bicycle makes a valuable contribution in many areas of policy. This means that all relevant European policy documents – on transport, climate change, land use and spatial planning, public health and social issues – must make clear, specific reference to the advantages of cycling.
- We call on the European transport authorities, at all levels, immediately to set targets for radical growth in cycling levels, and to make an immediate commitment to invest a minimum 10% of transport budgets in cycling measures.
- We call for the European Commission to establish without delay a full-time post of head of cycling policy within the Directorate-General Energy and Transport.
- As a priority Europe should establish a demonstration programme of cycle friendly cities, with sufficient central funding support to ensure success in shifting a high proportion of car journeys to cycling.
- There is an immediate need for expansion and improvement to cycle tourism infrastructure, such as EuroVelo, the European cycle route network and the carriage of cycles on all long distance trains to promote sustainable and healthy tourism and to help European citizens discover the benefits of the bicycle
- The ECF and its members now have ample evidence of the potential for cycle usage growth, its cost-effectiveness and value for money. Implementation must begin now; we also call for more complementary investment in cycling research which will further enhance the evidence base.
- The ECF calls on all politicians and officials now to recognise the important contribution that cycling can, and must, make in tackling climate change. Please work with us to realise that potential and to guarantee a better quality of life now and in the future.