Europe pedals forward! EU adopts the European Declaration on Cycling

On 3 April 2024, at the Connecting Europe Days, the EU took an important step in reducing transport emissions by adopting the European Declaration on Cycling, recognising cycling as a sustainable, accessible, and affordable means of transport.

POLIS welcomes this significant step: as part of our Manifesto for the upcoming European Union parliamentary elections, one of our priorities to empower cities and regions for better transport is the need to protect Europeans who walk and cycle, delivering on the EU’s commitments and striving for zero deaths.

POLIS Manifesto for the European Elections, Priority 7: "Protect Europeans who walk and cycle: Deliver on the EU’s commitments and strive for zero deaths".

This declaration, stemming from a proposal put forth by the European Commission in October 2023 and in response to calls from the European Parliament and Member States, signifies a collective political pledge and serves as a guiding framework for current and future policies and initiatives about cycling.

It is an important step in the right direction: the EU must deliver on its political commitments, and the European Commission should prepare an implementation plan detailing how it will more systematically integrate cycling policies into other relevant EU policies. Such an implementation plan should build on the experience of cities in promoting and advancing cycling and be developed in collaboration with national and regional authorities.

For more information about the adopted European Declaration on Cycling, click here.

To read our full Manifesto for the European Elections, click here.