The European Cyclists Federation and World Council on Cycling published a study showcasing the ambitions of 70 cities from around the world to increase their mode share of cycling.

The new publication, “Cycling Delivers on the Global Goals,” also highlights the link between cycling and 11 of the 17 Global Goals.

The two organizations pledged to produce the report in September 2014 following a call from Ban Ki-Moon at the UN Secretary-General’s Assembly on Climate Change to promote the importance of cycling to achieve the new UN Sustainable Development Goals, with special attention to climate action.

The publication shows, cycling can have a substantial positive impact on the world’s future. The scenario highlights how increasing bicycle and e-bike use would help: saving almost $6 trillion over the next 15 years, improving quality of life and a 7 percent decrease of urban transport CO2 emissions.

ECF & WCA stress that cycling is already delivering on the Global Goals established  in a recent UN report, such as:

  • Goal #3 – “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all” – by promoting physical activity cycling generates reduces heart diseases and other negative impacts of sedentary lifestyles
  • Goal #8 – “promote sustained inclusive and sustainable economic growth” – The cycling sector creates more jobs per investment than any other mode of transport
  • Goal #12 – “ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns” – Cycling matches perfectly with the diversity and scale of regional and local economies. In many urban areas, 50 percent of all goods deliveries can be done by bicycle.

Additionally, the publication illustrates the lessons learnt from successful cycling cities, including starter, climber and champion cities.

“Cycling a delivers directly to 11 of the 17 goals,” said ECF & WCA President Manfred Neun. “Therefore  cycling needs investments and has to be integrated in all policies, if the world really wants to realize the Global Goals!”.

Dr. Bernhard Ensink, ECF and WCA Secretary-General, will take this message with him to Paris on the Train to Paris initiative Nov. 28. As a partner of the Paris Process on Mobility and Climate, ECF and WCA are involved in the PPMC events on Dec.3 and Transport Day on Dec. 6 at COP21 in Paris.