Members of the European Twowheel Retailers’ Association (ETRA), which represents bike, ped-elec and motorcycle dealers across the continent, voted Wednesday to dissolve and liquidate the trade organization due to insufficient funding.



ETRA's board voted unanimously to dissolve the organization, which was formed in 1995 to promote the interests of Europe's two-wheel dealers. It focused on lobbying European Commission policy makers and technocrats to support greater public spending on public transit and pedestrian and bike friendly infrastructure as part of comprehensive approach to reducing green gas emissions and congestion in Europe’s urban areas.

 

Much of that advocacy work will continue under the leadership of the European Cyclists’ Federation, a Brussels-based organization that represents millions of cyclists across Europe.

 

ETRA’s membership comprises retail associations from Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, France, Ireland, UK and the Netherlands which represented nearly 7,000 companies who employ around 17,500 people. It counted Dahon, Giant Segway, Shimano, Ohm and other prominent manufacturers among its 30 associate members.
At an extraordinary Assembly General, the effective