Cycling as an essential measure to achieve Europe's climate goals

Introduction

There is simply no way for the EU to achieve its ambitious climate targets in the Paris Agreement and European Green Deal without significantly increasing the levels of cycling across Europe. Cycling is a low/zero-carbon form of mobility that can be scaled up to reduce road transport emissions and make Europe's cities more livable, safer, healthier, and cleaner for all their inhabitants.

ECF's Proposal

ECF proposes an ambitious work programme engineered to produce a significant uptake in cycling in Europe, which we believe is the quickest and most effective way to enable Europe to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Value of ECF

ECF is the single best value for money for achieving these aims. As a federation of nearly 70 civil society organisations, ECF unites cycling movements in Europe as the only civil society voice at the pan-European level, and as the world's largest and best-known cyclists' advocacy association.

We can leverage the power of our members and close networks with European cities and regions, employers, academics, and civil society allies to drive the EU's ability to meet its climate goals by having cycling become a mainstream mode of transport and leisure.

Work Packages Overview

The eight work packages in this programme cover the full range of ways cycling can be used as a key measure to reduce carbon emissions. The proposed activities include:

1. Influencing policies to shift people away from cars to more cycling.
2. Increasing financial investments in cycling infrastructure.
3. Changing the EU's urban mobility policies.
4. Promoting cycling as a green means of tourism.
5. Improving road safety so more people can cycle.

Contributions to Mobility Strategy

The programme aims to make significant contributions to mobility strategy and policy, and improving cycling data collection to enable the EU and its member states to quantify cycling's positive impacts on the climate and environment.