The bicycle, an amazing tool for change. People all over the world are moving towards a new system. Will the economic power allow it? Read article
Category Archives: International Posts
Outside EU / UK / US
Joachim Hochstein
Joachim Hochstein recently gave talks in Tralee and Dublin on the Frankfurt Cycling Scene: his presentation is available here
Economic benefits of cycling in the EU-27
German Chancellor Angela Merkel opened Europe’s biggest bike trade fair Eurobike last Wednesday, signaling a huge step forward for the cycling advocacy movement. At the same time ECF released its analysis of the “Economic benefits of cycling in the EU-27” making it clear that such high level interest in cycling is set to continue. Senior politicians are beginning to realize that daily cycling not only changes the face of our cities for the better, it also makes much sense in economic terms.
There’s no ethical case for mandatory cycle helmets
Helmets do not provide sufficient protection to warrant the claim that they are highly effective – and the right to cycle bare-headed is by no means trivial
The Dutch Prize Their Pedal Power, but a Sea of Bikes Swamps Their Capital
Problems of success; 
read article
European Citizen´s Initiative “30kmh – making streets liveable!”
You can determine the future of your European cities!
We want to have real traffic safety and a better quality of life. So, we are asking for an EU-wide speed limit of 30 km/h (20 mph) in villages and cities. Register to vote with us – support our European Citizen´s Initiative (ECI).
On your bike! Google Maps now includes cycling directions
HERE’S SOME NEWS to put Ireland’s cyclists in a good mood for the weekend: Google Maps now allows users to find cycling directions between any two points in Ireland.
The feature has been added to Google Maps as of this evening, and aims to find the optimal cycling path between any two locations in the country. Continue reading On your bike! Google Maps now includes cycling directions
ECF calls on national ministers to co-found local cycling infrastructure
ECF urges OECD transport ministers to co-found local cycling strategies at the annual summit of the International Transport Forum (ITF) in Leipzig, Germany. As the theme of this year’s summit is “Funding Transport”, ECF is sending an open letter to the participating governments, demanding them to finance bicycle promotion on the national level.
“No other form of transport has a higher cost-benefit ratio than cycling,” says ECF Secretary General Dr. Bernhard Ensink. “National transport ministers now have to step up and make a pledge to include cycling in their national funding strategies. This year we have an opportunity to be listened to as many governments are dealing with tight budgets. And the Netherlands, Denmark, and Hungary are three examples that have shown this strategy works.” Continue reading ECF calls on national ministers to co-found local cycling infrastructure
Doubling cycling by 2020 set to become EU policy
On Thursday a key committee of European MEPs adopted ECF’s Vision for doubling cycling in the EU by 2020 and the target is on course to be adopted as full EU policy later this year.
This is the first time that the ECF target has been formally adopted in an EU action plan and is a major milestone in ECF’s campaign to release billions of euros for cycling in the next EU budget.
Two wheels good. Four wheels bad
Bicycle people are nice people, car people are fascists
Citizens from countries that use bicycles in disproportionate numbers tend to be the most tolerant and free-spirited.
The letters page of The Irish Times has recently been entertaining a debate about the menace that careering cyclists pose to poor wee drivers and their delicate metal carriages. One correspondent, annoyed by poor behaviour from the cycling community, has suggested that number plates be mandatory for all users of the two-wheeled engines of death (my facetious words, not hers). Read article