More than half of the global population now lives in urban environments, and many people who formerly relied on bicycles for transport now have access to cars and motorbikes. Motorization has brought surges in congestion, pollution and other safety risks.
But Manfred Neun, the president of the European Cyclists’ Federation, said many of the present trends can be reversed.
“Just because a city is not cycling-friendly today doesn’t mean it has to stay that way,” said Mr. Neun, whose federation is helping organize Velo-city 2009, a conference to be held in Brussels May 12-15 that organizers say is world’s leading event dedicated to urban cycling.
“With the right mobilization of politicians and citizens, everything can change,” Mr. Neun said.
He noted that cities like Brussels were “climber” cities, with around 4 percent of daily trips there made by bicycle. Copenhagen, he said, is a “forerunner” city, with 35 percent of all commuters using their bikes for journeys to work.
Among the themes to be discussed at the conference are ways of improving urban cycle routes, how cycling helps combat pollution and climate change, and how tax systems can be used to encourage more people onto bicycles.
Among other events: A so-called bike-in cinema, where riders can enjoy an outdoor movie, and a demonstration of a special elevator to help cyclists up steep hills.
The capstone of the conference will come on May 15 with the signing of a “Charter of Brussels” at the European Parliament by the European Commission and by mayors and authorities from Copenhagen, Seville, Tartu, Munich, Edinburgh, Varna, Budapest and Reggio Emilia.
In the weeks to follow, dozens of other cities across the European Union are are expected to sign the charter, which is aimed at making cycling a fully fledged means of urban transport on par with transport by car, according to Pascal Smet, the minister for mobility for the government of Brussels.
Signatories to the charter would make commitments that include ensuring at least 15 percent of daily trips are made by bicycle by 2020, reducing the numbers of deadly accidents involving cyclists, and creating theft-proof parking places for bicyclists.
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