Press Release from ECF on Velo-city 2007

Victor

Press Release
Velo-city 2007 in Munich

More Focus on Cycling


At the biggest cycling conference worldwide, Velo-city 2007 in Munich, politicians and experts from all over the world agreed: cycling traffic can and has to be strengthened. It is a major contribution to CO² emission reduction. Therefore we need consequent enhancement of cycling friendly policies.

Already in his opening speech Wolfgang Tiefensee, German Federal Minister of Transport, advocated placing cycling traffic more into the centre of general transport policies. He stated further, that advancing the image of the bicycle and connecting cycling traffic with mass traffic, regional traffic and long-distance traffic was absolutely necessary.

This suits the concept of “Intermodality” Manfred Neun, President of the ECF (European Cyclist Federation), is heavily promoting. Intermodality means putting cycling traffic into context of all forms of traffic. In “The Declaration of Berne”, the ECF released on this conference, the ECF takes the firm stand, that all relevant fields of politics – transport, climate change, land use and spatial planning, public health and social issues – have to integrate cycling in their concepts and promote the advantages in their press releases. Special emphasis is placed on the promotion of cycling friendly cities.

Lord Mayor Christian Ude and Mayor Hep Monatzeder of Munich showed a lot of political instinct in applying for hosting Velo-city 2007. Since they got the acceptance by the ECF they prepared most consequently: step after step to a cycling friendly city! Already now Munich is profiting from its investments in cycling infrastructure and living quality. The aim is to increase the share of cycling traffic from 10 percent to 15 percent until 2015.

On this conference the advantages of cycling friendly cities are taking in a key role with new strategies and field reports discussed in several sessions.

The Norwegian minister Liv Signe Navarsete emphasized the importance of cycling in the strife against akinesia*. In tune with the motto of the conference “from vision to reality” she postulated to act now.

In the next 10 years cycling traffic will increase minimum 50 percent, a doubling is also possible, so the prognosis of ECF President Manfred Neun. Politicians and planers should make arrangements. A stronger and better co-operation between NGOs and politicians and industry is required. And Velo-city has shown how, with a lot of good examples and experiences of best practise. The fact that the general assembly of the umbrella federation of the European cycling industry, Colibi/Coliped, took place now in Munich at the same time as Velo-city shows good promise – cycling is promoted on all fronts.

ENDS

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akinesia