Geo

După aproximativ 15 ani de muncă de lobby a organizațiilor de bicicliști din țările UE pentru educarea, convingerea și provocarea europarlamentarilor din țările lor, și 15 ani de demersuri perseverente făcute la Bruxelles lansate de către conducerea Federației Europene a Bicicliștilor… iată că a apărut o rezoluție de MARE interes pentru cetățenii UE, pentru guvernele din UE și pentru comnitățile din ce în ce mai mari de bicicliști.

În acest context, sperăm să nu mai auzim / vedem autorități locale sau naționale din România, afirmând că uilizarea bicicletei este doar un moft sau un simplu sport…

Este un moment istoric: Parlamentul European adoptă rezoluția privind Strategia Europeană de promovare a utilizării bicicletei și nevoia DUBLĂRII până în 2030 a numărului deplasărilor pe bicicleta în UE!

NOTE:
– În 2007 am înființat Federația Bicicliștilor din România (FBR), care este acum membră în Federației Europene a
Bicicliștilor (ECF).
– În 20014 am înființat Asociația Comercianților de Biciclete din România (AsPIC) care este membră a Confederației Europene a Industriei Bicicletei (CONEBI).
Încă așteptăm o ‘trezire’ la realitate a concetățenilor noștri și a autorităților care ar trebui să guverneze spre o lume mai bună, în trafic și în natură.

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PRESS RELEASE | European Parliament calls to double cycling in Europe by 2030

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Brussels, 16 February 2023

The European Parliament’s Resolution on developing an EU Cycling
Strategy tasks the European Commission with doubling the number of
kilometres cycled in Europe by 2030. The call marks a recognition of
cycling as a fully-fledged mode of transport and key industrial asset to
meet long-term climate and clean manufacturing objectives.

The European Parliament’s Resolution, adopted today (16 February 2023)
almost unanimously in Strasbourg, sets out a 17-point action plan to
develop more cycling infrastructure, lay fertile ground in Europe for
bike, component and battery production, and grow two million jobs in a
“cycling ecosystem” covering manufacturing, tourism, retail, health and
sports that already employs one million people in Europe today.

Cycling advocacy associations the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF),
Cycling Industries Europe (CIE), the Confederation of the European
Bicycle Industry (CONEBI) and the European Bicycle Manufacturers
Association (EBMA) enthusiastically welcome the Parliament’s Resolution
and warmly congratulate its Transport and Tourism Committee for carrying
through the Resolution under MEP Karima Delli’s initiative and
stewardship.

MEP Karima Delli said: “Cycling brings so many benefits: better health,
less congestion, more liveable cities and so on. However, up until now,
we were lacking from the EU institutions a strong signal that recognises
the central role of cycling in our societies.”

Kevin Mayne, CEO of Cycling Industries Europe, said: “This is an
important step forward for the coalition of associations, companies,
cities, regions and governments that have supported the European
Parliament in developing this resolution. From an industry perspective
this is the most comprehensive endorsement of the importance of our
sector that we have ever had by the EU institutions.”

Jill Warren, CEO of the European Cyclists’ Federation, said: “This
important resolution, which reflects many of our longstanding advocacy
and policy demands, represents a key milestone for cycling. We applaud
the entire European Parliament for adopting an EU Cycling Strategy that
can unlock cycling’s potential to enable more people to cycle – and to
cycle more safely – all across Europe.”

Manuel Marsilio, General Manager of CONEBI, added: “The bicycle, e-bike,
parts and accessories industries in Europe welcome the European
Parliament’s call on both the European Commission and EU Member States
to develop an EU Cycling Strategy: this is an historic appeal for the
further growth of the whole sector and a clear acknowledgement of its
pivotal role in the mobility ecosystem of the EU industrial strategy.”

In welcoming the call for an EU Cycling Strategy, ECF, CIE, CONEBI and
EBMA urge the European Commission to rapidly act upon the extensive list
of policy recommendations set out by the European Parliament.

Cycling stakeholders also hope that the proposed designation of 2024 as
the European Year of Cycling – which is already backed by numerous EU
Member States in the European Cycling Declaration – encourages national
governments to take additional actions such as reducing VAT rates,
multiplying initiatives to promote cycling and replicating the “Portugal
Bike Valley” reindustrialisation success story in other regions, with
targeted support from European funding programmes.

Note to the editor:

The European Parliament’s Resolution for an EU Cycling Strategy is
legally non-binding, but is a key document to shape future policy
priorities and decisions for which the Parliament can hold the European
Commission accountable. The Resolution calls for a range of specific
actions to enable and grow cycling, including, for example:

Significantly increase investments in safe, separated cycling
infrastructure and integrate cycling into urban frameworks
Take cycling into account when building or upgrading Trans-European
Transport Network (TEN-T) infrastructure
Include the cycling industry in the mobility ecosystem of EU industrial
strategy
Support the production of “Made in Europe” bicycles and components
Enable the creation of additional high-quality green jobs in the cycling
industry
Increase the accessibility and affordability of bicycles
Accelerate the development of EuroVelo, the European cycle route
network, and its 17 routes
Promote cycle-friendly workplaces
Enable safe and secure bike parking spaces and charging capacity for e-bikes
Designate 2024 as the European Year of Cycling.
The European Parliament’s Resolution delivers on a pledge made by MEP
Karima Delli to create a European cycling declaration last June at the
Connecting Europe Days in Lyon and at a cycling summit a day later
organised by the City of Copenhagen ahead of the Grand Départ of the
Tour de France. Speaking at the same event in Copenhagen, Commission
Executive Vice President Frans Timmermans pledged his support and
acknowledged that the EU has a role to play in formulating cycling
policy, saying, “We must support more and new measures to grow cycling
in Europe.”

Meanwhile, momentum for a more strategic approach to growing cycling
continues to build among EU Member States. To date, 11 EU countries have
signed the Belgium-led European Cycling Declaration which calls for an
EU action plan to prioritise cycling. 12 Member States have a national
cycling strategy or similar policy document in force. Taken together, a
total of 17 Member States – a clear majority – have either signed the
European Cycling Declaration, have a national cycling strategy currently
in force, or both.

About the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF): We are the single
European umbrella organisation for cycling for both transportation and
leisure. With more than 60 member organisations in over 40 countries, we
unite the European cycling movements as the only civil society voice at
the pan-European level, and as the world’s largest and best-known
cyclists’ advocacy organisation. The vision we share with our members is
to improve and increase cycling across the whole of Europe.

About Cycling Industries Europe (CIE): CIE is the voice of cycling
business, actively promoting the sector in Europe and worldwide. Our
ambition is to reach out beyond the traditional definition of the
cycling industry and align all business and commercial actors in a
common mission to change the way people move.

About the Confederation of the European Bicycle Industry (CONEBI):
CONEBI represents the European Bicycle, Pedal Assist E-Bike, Parts &
Accessories Industries; via the CONEBI’s national industry members, more
than 600 small, medium and large companies are represented in CONEBI.
The aim of CONEBI is to be part of the European regulatory and policy
consultation fora as well as to keep on cooperating with other
organisations that share common values or advocacy objectives. CONEBI is
a founding member of the World Bicycle Industry Association WBIA and the
Industry4Europe coalition.

About European Bicycle Manufacturers Association (EBMA): EBMA represents
the European bicycle, e-bike and components industry on a variety of
trade and customs law issues. EBMA works in favour of free trade that is
fair, in respect of WTO rules. EBMA strongly supports sustainable
manufacturing in the EU to grow our cycling industry green jobs and
sustainable manufacturing SMEs, to increase investments & innovations,
and enhance the creation of industry bike valleys.