PeopleForBikes President Tim Blumenthal has been appointed to the international steering board for the World Cycling Alliance, which was launched at the Velo-city Global conference in Adelaide last month to create a global advocacy network that will lobby on behalf of cyclists worldwide.



The WCA’s goal is to unite NGOs with a substantial interest in cycling and give them a voice in international institutions, but also act as a platform for exchange of expertise, sharing of best-practice, and cooperation between organizations with a common purpose: promoting the use of the bike.
 

The alliance is an initiative of the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF), an umbrella organization which – as its name suggests – was created to act as common voice for cycling advocacy on the European stage. Over the space of more than 30 years, it developed into a network comprised of cycling associations and NGOs  spanning 40 countries worldwide. The WCA will focus on advocacy on global level to promote cycling major institutions such as the OECD, ITF, UN and World Bank. The WCA was launched in the last week in May at the world cycling summit, the Velo-city Global conference in Adelaide, South Australia. WCA’s founders include 84 organizations, most of which are members of ECF.
 

ECF’s President Manfred Neun will act as WCA president.

 

The WCA will reach out to all non-governmental organizations who wish to come together and to promote cycling. As such, WCA is looking to expand and is calling out to organizations with a substantial interest in the promotion of cycling around the world to get in touch. Membership is open to any NGO. The newly-formed World Cycling Alliance looks forward to establishing new and fruitful relationships in the coming years.
 

“It is important that the network will have a governance board with members from all continents,” said Bernhard Ensink, ECF’s Secretary General and acting WCA Secretary General. “The idea behind it is that it should grow bottom-up and not just steered by ECF people.”
 

The WCA will be governed by an international steering board for the initial years of its existence. It will oversee the establishment of a permanent governing structure that best serves the missions and objectives of the Alliance. Its Terms of Reference specify a maximum of 12 Board members. Currently, a decision is pending on two extra Board members (one each from Africa and South America), who will complete its formation to becoming truly representative of all four corners of our planet.

In addition to Blumenthal, the board is composed of:
 


  • Manfred Neun (ECF President) – President of the WCA Board

  • Christian Haag from Australia (CEO of Bicycle SA)

  • DV Manohar from India (President of the Hyderabad Bicycling Club)

  • Thongchai Panswad from Thailand (President of the Thai Cycling Club)

  • Jean-François Pronovost from Canada (Vice president of Vélo Québec)

  • Marijke van Haaren from the Netherlands (President of the Fietsersbond)

  • Bernhard Ensink, ECF secretary-general, will serve as secretary-general of the WCA 


The Secretariat of the WCA is held by ECF in Brussels. Interested NGOs are invited to contact the WCA Secretariat at wca@ecf.com