The European Parliament calls for a European Cycling Strategy

The European Parliament could soon be adding its voice to calls for a European Cycling Strategy. MEPs on the Parliament's Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) voted in favour of such a resolution at the end of January 2023. The resolution will now be voted on by the full Parliament later in February 2023. 

“Cycling should be recognised as a fully-fledged mode of transport,” according to the text approved by the TRAN Committee. This means that bicycles should be recognised as a mode of transport, and as such they should be framed in a specific European strategy. Hence, the European Cycling Strategy would be the first document in which cycling is not considered along with other transport modes, as it would be exclusively dedicated to cycling.

The resolution starts with a focus on bicycle production, which today is composed of around 1,000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and then presents the sector's needs and challenges, including those relating to safety, infrastructure and employment. According to MEPs, the lack of secure parking and dedicated cycle lanes, as well as insufficient measures to prevent theft, are some of the obstacles that prevent people from using bicycles as a daily means to move around cities. Hence, it is of crucial importance to set new priorities at the European, national and regional levels.

Cities will have a leading role in such activities. MEPs are asking for bicycles to always be taken into consideration from the start of any planning process, for example from the planning phase of the TEN-T infrastructure until its development and improvement. This could be done by adding cycle paths that run parallel to railway tracks or inland waterways, where feasible. MEPs also encourage local (and national) authorities to significantly increase investments in cycling infrastructure and to integrate affordable bike-sharing schemes into their urban mobility plans.

With this resolution, MEPs are seeking to double the number of kilometres travelled by bike in Europe by 2030. Cities are already playing a leading role and will keep doing this, if they consider bicycles to be a viable last mile solution in urban hubs.

The resolution on the European Cycling Strategy also calls on the European Commission and Member States to support the production of "Made in Europe" bikes and components, thereby stimulating the competitiveness of EU industry, thus contributing to reshoring and supply chain security. To strengthen the sector, countries could also reduce the VAT rates for the supply, rental and repair of bicycles and e-bikes. Lastly, MEPs aim to guarantee cycling accessibility to people with reduced mobility and vulnerable groups. The European Social Climate Fund and the Structural and Investment Funds could be used to help those most affected by ‘transport poverty’, supporting them with purchase of bicycles or access to bike-sharing services.

According to the president of the TRAN Committee, MEP Karima Delli, with this vote the European Parliament is adopting a clear position on cycling and asserting that it is a transport mode that should be put on the same level as other modes.

Original article published by rinnovabili.it on 31 January 2023.