Replacing cars with e-cars won’t save the planet, says European cyclist union. Changing the mentality around mobility will.  Photo: Shutterstock

Replacing cars with e-cars won’t save the planet, says European cyclist union. Changing the mentality around mobility will.  Photo: Shutterstock

Transportation is at the heart of the Cop26 conference on Wednesday. But while electric cars are the big focus of the day, cycling and other active means of transportation are snubbed, says the European cyclist federation (ECF). 

In an open letter co-signed by 262 organisations around the world, including ProVelo in Luxembourg, the ECF says: “What we need now is for governments to politically and financially commit to more, safer and integrated cycling that is equitable for everyone living in our countries, cities and regions.”

Arguing that transportation contributes to 24% of global CO2 emissions, the letter asks leaders to significantly increase the number of cyclists in their regions.

“There is a will to cycle more in Luxembourg”

Although Luxembourg offers free public transportation, cycling infrastructures are lacking. Between inhabitants from rural areas and cross-border workers, automobile transportation is the most used in the country. In fact, Luxembourg has the , making it an important contributor to CO2 emissions.

In an interview with Delano, Yves Meyer from ProVelo, said: “There has been a lot of progress, especially in Luxembourg-city, but some areas aren’t as connected as they should be. There are a lot of holes in the cycling infrastructure.”

“The pandemic showed that more and more people wanted to cycle to work and for fun, because it’s faster. It was a real alternative to cars.” Meyer said. “It’s more agreeable than public transportation that are crowded.”  

Though the government will have to make more efforts to implement public transportation in rural areas, where cycling isn’t always an option because of the infrastructure and distances. Active in Luxembourg schools, the non-profit considers “we should instil a cycling culture in children, instead of pushing them to immediately pass their driving license at 18 and get a car.”

Simpler solutions to save time

The ECF in its letter also points out that swapping all current cars with zero-emission cars will take too long, whereas implementing cycling infrastructures and initiatives not only is good for the environment but has a proven positive impact on individual health.

It concludes: “There is no conceivable way for governments to reduce CO₂ emissions quickly enough to avoid the worst of the climate crisis without significantly more cycling. Cycling is one of the best solutions we already have to ensure our planet is habitable for all generations to come.”

 The complete open letter can be read .