A BETTER understanding of the full picture of benefits that cycling provides to individuals and society at large is helping the mission of the cycling community of realizing a more bike-friendly world.
Last December the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) released the study “The EU Cycling Economy’”.
The headline finding of the study is that across Europe, cycling creates €513.8 billion in benefits each year. Today in Europe, around 655,000 people work in the cycling industry. Further, the ECF argued that if cycling’s modal transport share is doubled, an additional 400,000 jobs will be created.
These compelling statistics make a convincing case for greater investment in cycling as a sport and form of everyday transport. Decisions taken by policy-makers can hamper or support an increase in cycling—and increasingly such decisions are informed by statistics and data.
Today the ECF is leading the campaign to see the European Union adopt a European Cycling Strategy. In this campaign such data is helping make the clear case for EU investment in cycling.
The International Cycling Union (UCI) is supporting the important campaign and is working with the ECF to shape the blueprint document for an EU Cycling Strategy.
“We will also actively campaign for its adoption by the EU, and we encourage all those involved in the sport of cycling to also do so,” the UCI said in a statement.
“At the UCI, we believe that developing a better understanding of the socioeconomic impact of sports cycling will help us convince public leaders to invest in cycling; helping ensure the growth of cycling in all forms,” the statement added.
“More and more citizens across the industrialized world turning to cycling, and in other parts of the world bicycle remains a tool for sustainable development. Indeed, the benefits of more cycling are clear: reduced pollution, improved public health, less congestion and more.” UCI News
Image credits: UCI Photo