What needs to be done to achieve more and safer cycling across Europe?
Along this central question the European Cyclists Federation (ECF) has published its first Road Safety Charter, adopted by the Annual General 2010 Meeting in Tczew, Poland.
The Charter comes just in time as the EU is preparing its 4th Road Safety Action Programme 2011-2020. Within this Action Programme, the ECF would like to see rate-based targets included aiming at halving fatality and injury rates by 2020, measured in kilometres cycled [or per hour/ per trip]. This demand is in line with the "Safety in Numbers" concept, arguing that cycling gets safer the more people do it.
Key measures suggested by the ECF to improve road safety for cyclists include a reduction in private motorised transport and an effective speed management. 30 km/h should become the standard speed limit in urban areas. Other measures include the provision of cycling-friendly infrastructure, the adoption of traffic codes encouraging cycling, the education and the promotion of cycling among children and adults, as well as adjustments to current motorised vehicle design and equipment. Read the full Charter here (PDF 167KB)
From the European Cyclists' Federation