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“While cities around the world are introducing a broad range of measures to limit physical contacts to prevent and slow down the COVID-19 pandemic, many people might still have a need to move around cities to reach their workplaces when possible, meet essential daily needs or provide assistance to vulnerable people”  The text reads:

“Whenever feasible, consider riding bicycles or walking: this provides physical distancing while helping to meet the minimum requirement for daily physical activity, which may be more difficult due to increased teleworking, and limited access to sport and other recreational activities.”

Cities around the world are passing their streets over to pedestrians and cyclists. New, temporary bicycle lanes are being made  following the lead of cities like Berlin where new and wide bike lanes have been delineated where automotive traffic lanes used to be.   Bogota has seen 100 km of crowded streets converted into interim bicycle lanes. Street posts were used for the purpose. Budapest’s city authorities have planned a whole network of bicycle routes on the city's main thoroughfares.

The "Europe;s capital" - Brussels’ entire historical city centre is now single-speed area with 20 km / h limit. Pedestrians and cyclists enjoy priority here.  The concept of prioritization in the urban communication network is gaining momentum in these extremely difficult times of the COVID-19 epidemic. Paris and Madrid are preparing a long-term strategy- they are currently analysing how to support bicycles as the primary means of transport after the quarantine measures have been relaxed.

Environmentalist Pierre Serne, former Vice-President of the Ile-de-France region, responsible for transport writes in one of his recent articles:  "In May we can see whole boulevards temporarily closed for cars in favour of bicycles."

Bicycle stores are back in business - in Austria since April 14 and in Germany since April 20. Other countries such as Denmark, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, bicycle repair workshops have been available on continuous basis.  CONEBI and ECF issued a joint press release - full text  available here. This has been supported by Members of the European Parliament. The communication calls upon EU governments and local authorities to fully support cycling.

COVID-19 pandemic has had significant economic implications for the entire bicycle industry. Thus CONEBI is in contact with the European institutions - this has been designed to develop immediate assistance.  Over recent weeks, the European Commission has announced several EU programmes. These must be easily accessible to the sector’s companies, free from excessive bureaucracy and designed strengthen the position of the cycling ecosystem at the forefront of the "green revolution" expected by so many.

We would like to remind you that the 11th International Fair of Bicycle Industry KIELCE BIKE-EXPO is held 26-28 November at the Kielce exhibition centre.

Source:  Polish Cycling Association

(JN)