Cyclurban+: Mobility Change, not Climate Change

Promoting cycling as an important means of urban transportation on the local and national levels in Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Climate-Neutral Mobility

19_064_02

Project info

Countries:

Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Slovakia

Project duration:

10/19 - 03/22

Target groups:

Local governments, National governments

Funding:

326,238.00 €

Contact info

Contact:

Damian Arikas

Implementing organisation
Partner:
  • Cyklokoalicia
  • Czech Environmental Partnership Foundation
  • ideas into energy gGmbH
  • Tartu City Government

Background

The project builds on the learnings and results of the predecessor project Cyclurban. Still, the transport sector, being accountable for around 20 per cent of the GHG emission in the EU, did not make much progress in reducing its emissions in the last years. The number of cars is still rising, and transportation alternatives are not yet attractive enough.

In the targeted countries, cycling is currently not integrated into urban transport systems and is perceived as an alternative instead of a fully-fledged mode of transport. Besides, owning a car is closely connected to the status of a person, making it a source of self-esteem. As a result, the number of cars in cities has doubled over the past 20 years, and access to cycling is ad hoc or isolated.

There is a lack of a system-oriented and integrated approach to ensure that people are willing to switch from cars to bicycles. The project wants to overcome this and change the mind-set of transport-related decision-makers based on their increased capacities and foster a change in transport planning.

Project

To foster cycling in urban transport, Cycleurban+ targets municipal staff and decision-makers as well as institutions at the national level to overcome the traditionally car-oriented perspective on urban development.

Over 14 months, the project initiates several measures to promote the transition of the transport sector in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, focusing on Bratislava and Brno as examples of implementation. First, it holds workshops and seminars for planners and decision-makers. Second, it provides an online platform for funding cycling projects and infrastructure to municipalities in both countries. Third, policy briefs with suggestions for effective cycling enhancing measures are provided. For Slovakia, they work with a database that monitors cycling accidents and helps to identify and eliminate dangerous spots. In Brno, a Bicycle Policy Audit will be carried out to evaluate the cities cycling policies and develop proposals on how to overcome weaknesses. Additionally, NGOs and other cycling advocacy groups in both countries will be supported by the exchange of knowledge and dissemination of successful approaches.

Cyclists in the city centre; photo: Jolanda Lipu, BEF Estonia

Last update: April 2024

Success Stories

Climate Action on Cargo Bikes

EUKI project Cyclurban+ set up three pilot cargo bike rentals in Brno (Czech Republic), Tartu (Estonia) and Bratislava (Slovakia). The City of Tartu decided to continue running the cargo bike rental scheme after the pilot period and digitalised the system. The rental enables Tartu to continuously reduce its CO2 emissions as many transport trips in and around the city are now done with cargo bikes instead of cars.

Mandatory Overtaking Distance 1.5m Approved!

EUKI project "Cyclurban+" advocated on the national level for improvements of cycling conditions in Czechia. A project’s policy brief presented how a mandatory safe passing distance of 1.5 meter can improve safety of cycling across the country and undecided members of parliament had been approached. There was a fierce discussion in the media about the law amendment with no definitive support in Czech Senate. However, the law amendment passed by a margin of one single vote!

More about this project

Publications

publications

01 February 2023

Cyclurban+ Lessons Learned Report 2022

Videos

videos

13 December 2021

EUKI Community Film