Over one year ago, the European Union took a historic step by adopting the European Declaration on Cycling, for the first time recognising cycling as a fully-fledged mode of transport.
The cycling declaration lays out principles for action across the areas of policy, infrastructure, inclusivity, investments, road safety, industry, multimodality & tourism, and data collection.
However, it is only a starting point. More than a year after the declaration was adopted, what has changed on the ground? What role have city governments played in turning it into action? And what EU support do cities need to accelerate cycling measures and shift how people move around urban areas?
“Much more than a means of transport”
During the Urban Mobility Days 2025, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE) published its progress report on the implementation of the European Declaration on Cycling.
The report points to strong momentum across the EU to strengthen cycling infrastructure and policies. At the same time, it underlines areas where further action is needed, including cycle logistics, secure parking, charging provision in buildings, the carriage of bikes on trains, climate-proofing cycling infrastructure, and stronger engagement with industry.
Speaking during the adoption of the progress report, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, said: “Cycling is much more than just a means of transport. It contributes to cleaner air, healthier communities, and more accessible and people-friendly cities. Europe is steadily expanding cycling opportunities, but we need to go further to ensure that everyone has access to safe, affordable, and convenient mobility options.”
To support delivery of the Declaration and inform future reporting, the Commission has set up a network of National Cycling Contact Points, bringing together representatives of national ministries, and created a dedicated subgroup within the Expert Group on Urban Mobility (EGUM).
Chaired by Eurocities and the European Cyclists’ Federation, this subgroup brings together key stakeholders, including city representatives, to help track the implementation of the Declaration and to provide structured input to DG MOVE.
In the months leading up to the progress report’s publication, the subgroup submitted its contributions, compiling more than 250 measures taken at different levels of government in response to the Declaration’s pledges. They include 79 initiatives that have been launched, adopted, or implemented since the Declaration was adopted. These measures include cycling strategies, plans, and policy actions at local and national level.
Notably, Eurocities members provided several concrete examples of steps already underway in cities to turn the declaration into practice.
Cities demonstrate their commitment
Parma’s formal letter of commitment to the cycling declaration, for example, demonstrates the city’s dedication to advancing cycling as a key mode of urban mobility. The city’s strategy includes infrastructure development, daily cycling promotion, bike economy support, multimodal mobility integration, regional cooperation, and improved cyclist safety.
Similarly, Lyon Metropole’s ‘Cycling School for All’ initiative provides practical, inclusive education to encourage cycling among residents of all ages and backgrounds.
Meanwhile, Strasbourg has launched a new bicycle infrastructure project alongside the construction of the Tram Ouest line as part of its integrated mobility planning to ensure that cycling is fully embedded into public transport corridors by developing safe, high-quality bike routes parallel to the new tram line.
These examples highlight how local authorities are translating the European Cycling Declaration into tangible actions that foster safe, accessible, and people-centred cycling environments across Europe.
Individually, cities can innovate, but together [with the EU] we can influence frameworks, funding rules and legislation
Eurocities has long been deeply invested in cycling as central to urban transport policies. In spring 2023, this investment was demonstrated by the launch of the Eurocities Cycling Taskforce, chaired by Copenhagen and Amsterdam.
“Copenhagen and Amsterdam chair the Eurocities Cycling Taskforce because we share a long-standing commitment to cycling as a core part of urban mobility, and because we see similar barriers across European cities that cannot be solved locally,” explains Henrik Lundorff, Senior Mobility Consultant for Copenhagen and Chair of the Eurocities Cycling Taskforce. “Our role is to convene cities, align priorities, and translate practical, city-level experience into messages to the EU.”
“The taskforce is important because many challenges, such as fragmented funding, inconsistent standards and weak integration between cycling, public transport and urban logistics, are shaped at European level. Individually, cities can innovate, but together we can influence frameworks, funding rules and legislation.”
Lundorff adds: “For Copenhagen and Amsterdam, cycling is not a niche policy but essential infrastructure for climate action, public health and liveable cities. The taskforce helps ensure EU policies better reflect that reality.”
To support the EU’s efforts to establish an EU-wide baseline for cycling infrastructure, Eurocities is also a partner in Cycling Counts, the EU-funded study that has identified cycling data across Europe. It set out a methodology for the collection of data on cycling and progress monitoring across four dimensions: cycle network, cycle use, cycling safety, and cycling-related services such as bike parking, cycle logistics or bike-sharing.
Eurocities members have contributed to the study by constantly engaging with the consortium and giving their feedback throughout the project. The preliminary results of the Cycling Counts survey were unveiled at an EU webinar in December and can be found here.
Keeping the momentum
Overall, the European Commission’s progress report, which is its first stocktake of where things stand, shows that the Cycling Declaration is helping to put cycling higher on the agenda.
However, it also underlines a familiar risk: progress will stay uneven unless delivery becomes more consistent across EU member states and regions.
The biggest gaps are often not about big, flagship lanes, but the practical conditions that make cycling work for everyday trips, such as safe and secure parking, smooth links with public transport, better conditions for cycling logistics, and infrastructure that is designed to cope with heat, flooding and extreme weather.
To keep momentum, Eurocities and its members state that the next step needs to be about turning political intent into routine implementation. That means making it easier for cities to plan, deliver and maintain coherent networks, and ensuring national frameworks, funding streams and standards support that delivery rather than slowing it down.
From political will to concrete actions
The Declaration sets a shared direction, but cities are clear that more is needed to translate that direction into a practical roadmap with measurable milestones. For example, setting EU-level goals for cycling growth would be crucial to transform words into actions. The objectives would be informed by better data and could be adapted to different national starting points, so progress is tracked fairly and transparently.
Another suggestion is to hardwire the Declaration’s priorities into the EU’s wider transport and climate agenda. Instead of treating cycling as a separate topic, it would ensure that safety, inclusivity, multimodality, tourism, industry and data are systematically reflected in relevant EU initiatives, guidance and, where appropriate, future legislation.
It should also establish a clearer monitoring set-up, using the National Cycling Contact Points and the EGUM to keep implementation on track and to highlight what is working across countries.
Europe needs a strong local cycling industry to deliver on these ambitions, able to innovate, scale up infrastructure solutions, and develop new cycle types
“The EU Cycling Declaration was an important milestone, but it is only the starting point,” states Henrik Lundorff. “To turn political commitment into delivery, the next steps must focus on implementation. This includes a more binding framework.
“At the same time, Europe needs a strong, local cycling industry to deliver on these ambitions, able to innovate, scale up high-quality infrastructure solutions, and develop new cycle types that support everyday mobility, logistics and intermodality.”
Scaling up funding for active mobility in EU member states
Delivery will ultimately depend on investment. If the Declaration is to reshape mobility at scale, city governments say that cycling needs predictable, long-term funding that matches its role in cutting emissions, improving public health and making cities more accessible. The next EU budget cycle is a key opportunity to move beyond scattered pilot projects and support a steady pipeline of network delivery, maintenance and safety upgrades.
A stronger approach would include clearer expectations for how EU member states and regions use EU funds for active mobility, and more consistent support for projects that integrate cycling into major corridors, urban nodes and public transport interchanges. Funding should also be accessible to all territories.
Alongside infrastructure, investment needs to cover the ‘enablers’ that drive uptake, including safe parking, integration with rail, training and inclusion programmes, and reliable data systems so cities can measure progress and target resources where they have the greatest impact.
Turning political intentions into clear action
Cycling has benefited from exceptional political momentum, as evidenced by the European Commission’s progress report. Cities welcome this momentum and are among the first to support it.
However, city governments are determined to ensure that political intentions translate into concrete actions, into corresponding funding, and ultimately into results.
Eurocities will continue to champion the voice of cities on this crucial issue and will pursue the cooperation initiated with the European Commission and other stakeholders to turn this momentum into reality.
