Smart2Wheels: What Cycling Do For European Cities?

BRUSSELS, Belgium – On Thursday September 22 the Smart2Wheels event will take place in the European capital Brussels. This twofold event is aimed at making European policymakers better aware of the potential of bicycles and electric 2Wheels to make urban mobility more sustainable. Smart2Wheels is organizes by the European Twowheel Retailers’ Association (ETRA) as part of European Mobility Week.

The day starts with a show of modern cycling products, bicycles and electric 2Wheels for urban transportation on the esplanade of the European Parliament. Visitors will have ample opportunity to try out the vehicles on show. Various organisations and projects in the field of sustainable mobility will be there as well to present their activities.

The starting shot for Smart2Wheels will be given by a number of European political figures. Subsequently, six of them will climb in the saddle of the famous conference bike to discuss the role of cycling in European policy. Bike and debate will be steered by Jack Oortwijn, chief editor of Bike Europe, who already proved to be a fully qualified conference bike driver at last year’s meeting.

During the show, the Brussels cycling organisation Provelo Brussels will guide short bike rides with start and finish at the European Parliament and passing the European Commission and Council. The route is the one that European policy makers would effectively use should they do their service trips by bike.

After lunch a "bike train" will go from the European Parliament to the Dutch embassy in the Kortenberglaan. There, in the afternoon a debate will take place on the social and economic effects, which promotion of cycling as a sustainable form of mobility can produce. Senior European policy makers and stakeholders will take part in the debate. The conference will be concluded by the inauguration of the Netherlands’ Cycling Embassy in the presence of the Dutch ambassador.

Smart2Wheels is linked to the Orange Bike Days, an event series organised by the Netherlands Embassy with a view to putting Dutch knowledge and expertise in the field of bicycles and cycling infrastructure in Europe on the map. All information on Orange Bike Days is available here.

More information can be obtained via Smart2Wheels