European Parliament on E-bikes

BRUSSELS, Belgium – The members of the European Parliament will get acquainted with the advantages of the electric bike. On Wednesday 19 September ETRA will organise, in the framework of the European Mobility Week, an electric bike ride for Members of the European Parliament and contacts at the European Commission.

Every year in September, the European Union dedicates a week to mobility. The sixth edition of this European Mobility Week takes place from the 16th to the 22nd under the theme “Streets for People”. ETRA, the European trade association for two wheel retailers, seizes the opportunity to introduce the electric bike to Members of the European Parliament.

The electric bike concept still needs to be made widely known, for instance in the European institutions. That is why ETRA has decided to organise an electric bike ride for Members of the European Parliament and contacts at the European Commission. To date, the Accell Group, Giant, Biketec and Electronic Bicycle Development (EBD) have agreed to put electric bicycles at ETRA’s disposal for the ride.

For this event, next to the above-mentioned companies, ETRA’s associated members Shimano, Schwalbe and Hebie have also promised their cooperation. Any other companies wishing to cooperate, should contact ETRA Secretary General, Annick Roetynck, tel. +32 9 233 60 05, E-mail etra@pandora.be.

Cycling is solution for major problems
With this year’s theme, the EU wants to encourage local authorities to reallocate some road space to non-motorised traffic. The bicycle in general and the electric bike in particular fit perfectly well in this picture. Today, millions of people suffer from air pollution, traffic congestion, failing traffic safety, noise and bad health.

Major problems for which cycling can be part of the solution. According to the Dutch Cyclists’ Federation CO² emissions would decrease by 2.4 million tons per year when all car journeys up to 7.5 km would be replaced by cycling trips.

Furthermore, the European Greens have asked ETRA to contribute to their bike/mobility action in the framework of the European Mobility Week. That event takes place on Tuesday 18 September. It consists of a bike ride, in cooperation with Brussels cyclists’ associations, which includes among other things demonstrations of the combination bike + public transport.

The party will also pay a visit to the Brussels Mobility Minister Pascal Smet. He will be reminded that the Velo-city conference in Brussels in 2009 arouses some expectations with reference to cycling infrastructure in the Belgian capital.

• For related items on electric bikes, click here