Flanders is, after the Netherlands and together with Denmark, the second cycling region in Europe. This is due to our highly developed cycling infrastructure, such as cycle highways and streets, and increasing bicycle use. With the Belgian EU Presidency, Flanders is seizing the opportunity to put cycling issues on the European agenda as well. Central to the Conference is the ‘European Declaration on Cycling’, published by the European Commission on October 4^th 2023.

The Declaration contains 8 principles with 36 commitments and guides future policy decisions to increase bicycle use in Europe. Currently, the European Commission, European Parliament and European member states are negotiating the Declaration in the Council of the EU. When the three institutions reach an agreement, they will sign the Declaration under the Belgian presidency.

The conference brings together political leaders, policymakers and experts to exchange views and discuss further actions. The conference attached particular importance to some of the actions from the Declaration.

The priorities listed below should be further concretized in the next European legislature.

1. Increased focus on safer cycling environments

In order to increase bicycle use in the European Union, more attention needs to be paid to a safer cycling environment. Essential conditions are adjustments to infrastructure, such as the construction of separate bike lanes, or policy choices that put the needs of cyclists first within existing facilities, such as speed limits or the introduction of cycle streets.

2. Better interaction between policy levels

It is crucial to increase cycling investment within the EU. European funding resources must become more accessible and complementary to other investments within member states. The goal is to make cycling investments part of an integrated plan with better interaction between the European, national, regional and local levels. Separate or isolated realizations can thus be avoided. In this way, the EU can make a difference in terms of sustainable mobility and help achieve the climate objectives for transport.

3. Improved data exchange

In order to implement an informed policy, it is crucial that cycling data are monitored and shared, in order to compile statistics on, for example, bicycle use, the number of accidents, the number of kilometers travelled … The data are an important source of knowledge to further adjust policy.

4. Maintaining EU competitiveness

The European cycling industry can play an important role in maintaining the EU’s competitiveness and creating high-quality and sustainable jobs. The European Commission’s ‘Mobility Transition Pathway’ initiative seems promising to strengthen and build cross-sectoral cooperation, including the cycling industry, which can take its place alongside the automotive, maritime and rail sectors. The initiative stems from the EU Industrial Strategy and contributes to accelerating the green and digital transition, further strengthening industry resilience.

Flemish minister Lydia Peeters and Herald Ruijters, Deputy Director-General of the European Commission DG Move, opened the conference. A high-level panel discussion focused on the significance of the European Declaration on Cycling and the development of a European cycling policy. Several break-out sessions focused on a number of key principles from the Declaration, such as (cycling) data, tourism and multimodality, industry and economy, and inclusion and health. For the first time, European ministers and delegates from the European institutions exchanged views concerning the implementation of the Declaration in a closed interinstitutional session, followed by a photo opportunity and a press moment. In the afternoon, plenary sessions focused on the importance of a safe and secure cycling environment and the construction and (EU) financing of cycling infrastructure.

Flanders is committed to a future-oriented cycling policy. At the initiative of Minister Peeters, the Flemish Government invests at least 300 million euros a year in safe, comfortable and accessible cycling infrastructure. In addition, the Flemish government, together with civil society, transport regions, local authorities and provinces, is fully committed to a mental shift towards sustainable means of transport and raising awareness to encourage cycling. The goal of the Flemish cycling ambition is that in 2040 the Flemish citizen spontaneously chooses the bicycle and smoothly switches between other sustainable means of transport, such as (electric) shared systems or public transport. Research by the Flemish government (2022) already shows that the Flemish people make 18% of their trips by (electric) bicycle. This is the highest figure since the survey was launched in 1994.

On February 1 st 2024, Dr. Meredith Glaser will start at Ghent University as chair of cycling. As a parttime visiting professor, she will conduct scientific research on a number of topics, such as cycling safety, influencing cycling behavior and use, and the development of smart technology to make cycling more comfortable and safer. Her knowledge and scientific work will further strengthen cycling policy in Flanders and help realize cycling ambitions.

For more information on Flanders’ cycling policy, visit (link in Dutch): Fietsbeleid (in Dutch).