5,2 billion Euros for a backbone cycle route network in the Danube region. That is what is necessary to provide cyclists of nine Danube countries with adequate infrastructure on the highest level of cycle route networks. There is not enough money for that? This is why Czech Partnership for Urban Mobility together with Austrian Ministry for Climate Action, Environment Agency Austria, KTI Hungary, European Cyclists’ Federation and other organizations representing Danube Region organized “Investments in Cycling” event in Brussels on October 13, 2022.  

Photo: Jitka Vrtalova, Czech Partnership for Urban Mobility

Experts from the European Commission, the Committee of Regions and the European Investment Bank/Jaspers claim that there is enough money to build cycling infrastructure. It is just hidden behind the acronyms and the bureaucracy of the various funding schemes that are available at the European level. To make this money better and easier accessible for countries, regions and cities is one of the main requests from the participants of an event targeting at more investments in cycling in the Danube region.

Photo: Jitka Vrtalova, Czech Partnership for Urban Mobility

During this event at the Pilsen House in Brussels the need for the promotion of cycling as one of the most efficient, healthy and environmentally friendly means of transport was undisputed. The representatives of THE PEP (Transport Health Environment Pan European Programme), DG MOVE, DG REGIO, the Cabinet of Transport Commissioner Valean, the Committee of Regions and ECF (European Cyclists’ Federation) unisono were calling for action to promote cycling as one of the most important means to encounter the current climate as well as the energy crisis.

Photo: Jitka Vrtalova, Czech Partnership for Urban Mobility

Together with the experts from the European Cyclists’ Federation the countries of the Danube region clearly underlined the need and the benefits of more investments in cycling – especially cycling infrastructure – in the Danube region. This call for action was underlined by evidence produced during the last 2,5 year of joint work in the Danube Cycle Plans project. In a joint effort Austria, Czechia, Slovak Republic, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania defined their national cycle route networks, linked them at the borders, provided an assessment of the current condition and deducted the investment necessities applying adequate infrastructure design standards for missing sections or sections that need improvement/upgrading. These networks are part of new or updated National Cycle Plans which provide the overarching strategic framework for the promotion of cycling in the nine countries. The main findings and recommendations were summarized in the Danube Cycling Strategy aiming at doubling cycling in the Danube region. With their activities the partners contributed largely to the implementation of the first pan-European Master Plan for Cycling Promotion which was adopted in May 2021 at the 5th High Level Meeting of THE PEP (Transport Health Environment Pan-European Programme).

Photo: Ionut Maftei, Bike in Time

Photo: Jitka Vrtalova, Czech Partnership for Urban Mobility

With the results of the Danube Cycle Plans project the nine participating countries have the necessary instruments to set action for more people cycling. During the event in Brussels support was offered by the experts of European Investment Bank/JASPERS to guide the countries in direction of large scale investments in cycling infrastructure.

Photo: Jitka Vrtalova, Czech Partnership for Urban Mobility

Photo: Jitka Vrtalova, Czech Partnership for Urban Mobility

Furthermore, the partners will support the call for an EU cycling strategy that enables the Commission to use their existing competencies to boost the cycling modal share across Europe and identify the EU policy and funding instruments where provisions for cycling can be built on or strengthened.

Photo: Ionut Maftei, Bike in Time

The event was held under the auspices of Mr. Ivan Bartoš, Minister of Regional Development of the Czech Republic in the course of the Czech EU Presidency.

Detailed information:

• Presentations from the event
• Programme of the event (download in PDF)
• Photos (when using please mention credit, name of the authors are mentioned in the name of the folder)