ECF presented yesterday one of the 25 special Velo-city 2007 Bikes to Nicholas Hanley, responsible for Communication and Governance at the Directorate General Environment of the European Commission. With this symbolic gesture Dr Bernhard Ensink, Secretary General of the ECF (left in the back), invited the entire European Commission to the next Velo-city conference, which will take place in May 2009 in Brussels. Velo-city is the world’s largest bicycle planning conference. Therefore the objective of Brussels 2009 is no less than to make cycling a core priority of the European Union. Mr Hanley also sized this occasion to thank ECF for its contribution to the European Mobility Week last year. 

ECF Secretary General, Dr Bernhard Ensink (left), presents Velo-city Bike 2007 to Nicholas Hanley (center) from the European Commussion.

The presentation of the Velo-city 2007 Bike took place within the framework of the European Green Week. As the bicycle has to play a major role in making European transport more sustainable, ETRA , the European Twowheels’ Retailer Association, had organized a bicycle track in front of the European Commission Berlaymont building. Most bicycles at display were electric bicycles, assisting the cyclist with a maximum of 250 Watt. This can be in particular useful in hilly areas as well as for elder and disabled people. Bicycle producers, such as Batavus/ NL, have seen an enormous increase in sales of these bikes over the past few years and forecast further increases due to the ageing of the European population.

ETRA Secretary General, Annick Roetynck (right) showing Nicholas Hanley from the European Commission (left) the latest electric bicycle.

Making a test ride: Nicholas Hanley (front) on the Velo-city 2007 Bike, and Wim Van Vliet, ETRA Vice-Presidnet, on a Batavus electric bicycle.