Europe to double cycling by 2030

Europe is set to become the global center of cycling with the passing of a resolution by the European Parliament on developing an EU Cycling Strategy that tasks the European Commission with doubling the number of kilometres cycled 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.

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

The difference between Europe and North America is that the former is more advance in its climate goals especially its focus on transportation, making cycling one of the major planks in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the sector. Not to mention developing a cycling industry in Europe that will provide a massive amount of green jobs.

The European Parliament’s Resolution, adopted Feb. 16, 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.

“This important resolution, which reflects many of our longstanding advocacy and policy demands, represents a key milestone for cycling,” said Jill Warren, CEO of the European Cyclists’ Federation. “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.”

The European Parliament’s resolution for an EU cycling strategy is legally non-binding, but, according to a press release from the European Cycling Federation, is a key document to shape future policy priorities and decisions.

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 the EuroVelo network, 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

We have already seen a number of European countries develop national cycling strategies, 12 according to the ECF, and capital cities such as Paris complete thoroughly developed cycling networks that revolutionize how people move around the city. And more is on the way.

Note to North America. Let’s do this.