WRAP UP MAYORS SESSION 2017

Transcription

1 WRAP UP MAYORS SESSION 2017 The role of cycling in creating liveable and human sized cities

2 16th of June THE REGION OF ARNHEM AND NIJMEGEN WELCOMED 30 MAYORS TO THE MAYORS SESSION OF VELO-CITY 2017 On Friday the 16th of June, Velo-city 2017 has organized a special global Mayors Session. 30 Mayors have participated in the Mayors Session, such as the Mayors and Deputy Mayors of Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Dublin, Mannheim, Kampala, Oslo, Dusseldorf and Nantes. The theme of the Mayors session was livable and human sized cities and the role of cycling. Mayors are faced with numerous infrastructural, spatial, environmental as well as livability challenges. Cycling can assist in coping with these challenges and create healthy and livable cities. This is one of the reasons why cycling is becoming increasingly important in (world leading) cities. The session allowed for mayors to exchange ideas and experiences on how to create 'Governance for more Cycling'. Prof. dr. Ruth Oldenziel, author of the book Cycling Cities, provided a historical perspective on urban cycling. Presentations were be held by the (deputy) mayors of Dublin, Kampala, Amsterdam, Rio de Janeiro and the EU commissioner Mrs. Bulc and the Secretary General Mr. Viegas of the International Transport Forum of OECD.

3 Mayors Session SUMMARY INTRODUCTION What better way to express the importance by cycling, by actually doing it! The mayors program started with a bike ride from hotel de Bilderberg to the town hall of Arnhem. This is an 8 kilometer bike ride from Oosterbeek to Arnhem with several highlights, such as the Airborne museum Hartenstein and a bike ride along the Rhine river with ex cellent views. At arrival at the town hall of Arnhem, the Mayors Session started. The session was divided into three parts. In the first part there were presentations of Professor Ruth Oldenziel, Deputy Mayor Litjens (Amsterdam), Lord Mayor Carr (Dublin), Mayor Serunjoji (Kampala). Professor Ruth Oldenziel presented the 5 basic themes around which cycling policy and practice have developed over the last 100 years in 16 cities in 9 different European countries: Urban form Traffic models Mobility alternatives Cycling status Governance In the second part there were 4 breakout sessions. In these sessions, mayors exchanged dilemma s and best practices on cycling (govenance) in cities. While all introduced factors in shaping a successful cycling policy outcome entered in the discussion, not surprising the issue of governance was the focus of most groups. The third part consisted of presentations given by EU Commissioner Mrs. Bulc and ITF Secretary General José Viegas on how they can and will support national and local level to achieve more cycling. THE EU CYCLING STRATEGY Recommondations for delivering Green Growth and an effective Mobility System in 2030 was handed over on Fridaymorning June 16 in Nijmegen during a plenary session at the Velo-city2017 conference to the European Commissioner of transport Violeta Bulc. At the Mayors session, later in the morning of June 16 at the City Hall of Arnhem, the commissioner called for action from the Mayors: The EU can only do it, if the cities will do it. You all need to promote and invest in cycling! The complete European Cycling Strategy can downloaded:

4 Mayors Session TAKEAWAYS 1. GOVERNANCE Make sure to create a broad-based mandate by involving partners beyond the city. In some cities, national legislation does not leave much freedom to cities, when it comes to redefining the use of public space or implement cycling friendly measures in planning. For example, mayors of Paris and São Paulo have less leeway because of the mandate of urban/regional authorities when it comes to mobility governance. Provinces play important initiating, supporting, and funding roles in cycling infrastructures; creating smooth cycling connections between regional and urban infrastructures need special attention (Province Gelderland). More generally, Collaboration with the Province, urban region, or national government is essential. Make sure to involve key stakeholders early on to avoid top-down measures. In many places, (i.e. Dublin, Kampala as well as New York and the Netherlands in earlier times) shop owners fear loss of revenue with bicycle lanes. Science does not support this fear. Be open to new stakeholders in this development towards a more bike-friendly society, for example, the bicycle industry. Mobilizing social movement is important (Ljubljana). Leuven shares its practice in successfully creating a government-sponsored NGO where all the stakeholders (including businesses and academia) meet and discuss the mobility issue about creating a much-contested car-free downtown before the new circulation plan is launched. The engagement helps diffuse tensions. EU has a role to play to set the example and the larger frameworks about sustainable urban mobility not just for the EU, but worldwide together with institutions like WorldBank (Rio de Janeiro). This is about making choices; about as a politician having the courage to make choices about cycling as a preferred mode of transportation in the city (Dusseldorf, Ljubljana). It is important that mayors go out biking as a form of communication. In cities where there is critical mass (Amsterdam, Almere), policymakers no longer are divided along political lines, but about how to create public space (Dusseldorf, Amsterdam) 2. TRAFFIC MODELS Dedicated infrastructures vs. Traffic Calming Models: Road safety is at the core of this (Oslo, Rio, ECF, ); if cyclists do not feel safe and secure s/he will not cycle. No new cyclists will come. Separation and dedicated infrastructure is important (EU commissioner). Safety is not only about infrastructures, but also about teaching all traffic participants to respect each other. In old cities, space constraints limit room for bicycle-dedicated infrastructures (Dublin, Pskov), but calming traffic measures and discouraging automobility may be better solutions (Amsterdam). Physical challenges (hilliness) demand extra investments in dedicated infrastructures like elevators in some contexts (Luxembourg city)

5 Mayors Session TAKEAWAYS 3. CYCLING STATUS In many contexts, cycling is associated with poverty. Investing in making cycles high-status ( hip-and-happing ) again as the new green modernity in contexts where people still see cars as the status symbol (Dublin) At the same time, need of inclusivity in developing mobility policy. There is a gender and diversity issue in this (status) debate. Women make use more of Public Transit, whereas cycling seen as male-oriented (Paris). This is true globally. Make sure women, citizens of non-western communities, and immigrants are engaged and are included in the safe development of a new way of urban transportation and also trained in being navigating traffic safely (Oslo). Investing in cycling through bike share and infrastructure (Rio de Janeiro) can work as a political leverage to enhance status. 4. URBAN FORM Old, compact cities with narrow streets face greater challenges of adjusting to traffic challenges (Dublin, Pskov) than New Towns (Almere). At the same time, as Amsterdam has shown, this also offers opportunity through traffic calming rather than traffic separation models (see above). Bringing cycling into the mobility chain as before-and-after transport not only extends the mobility range of cyclists, but the bike-train-bike combination also seems to be a key driver in encouraging cycling rates (Deinze) 5. MOBILITY ALTERNATIVES The status of cars and belief of cars as the engine of economic growth is still strong supported by a still powerful car lobby, including investments. Confronting car-dedicated investments versus sustainable urban mobility investments are key (Dusseldorf) 6. CONCLUSION The central conclusion is that there is no silver bullet of one of these key areas. One needs to make a systematic analysis of the local situation, while at the same time being active in networks with colleagues and partners in other cities and countries that promote best practices globally. The outcome needs to be a fact-based deliberate policy of a mix of measures. VELO-CITY 2018: MAYORS SESSION The Mayors Session of Velo-city 2017 was the first Mayors Session ever to be organised during the Velo-city series. It is obvious that sharing knowledge and experiences amongst key decision makers all around the world is essential for the promotion of cycling, sustainable transport and creating liveable cities. Due to the succes of this edition, we would like to recommend the next velo-city hosts (Rio de Janeiro 2018 and Dublin 2019) to organise the second and third editions of the Mayors Session.

6 Velo-city 2017 MAYORS SESSION ORGANISATION HOSTS MODERATOR Mr. Boele Staal Mayor of Arnhem Drs. Hubert M.F. Bruls Mayor of Nijmegen Drs. Carol.F. van Eert Mayor of Beuningen DISCUSSION LEADERS Mr. Klaus Bondam, CEO Danish Cyclist Federation Mrs.Marianne M.H.F. Schuurmans Mayor of Lingewaard Mr. Arend van Hout Mayor of Westervoort SPEAKER ORGANISATION Cécile de Boer Margreet van Gastel Bas Govaarts Prof. dr. Ruth Oldenziel

7 MAYORS SESSION PARTICIPANTS VELO-CITY 2017 Sérgio Avelleda, secretary for transport and mobility São Paulo, Brazil Francois Bausch, Minister for Sustainable Development and Infrastructure, Luxemburg Conny Bieze Regional Minister of Province of Gelderland, The Netherlands Marianne Borgen Mayor of Oslo Norway Michael Obert Mayor of Karlsruhe, Germany Christophe Najdovski Vice Mayor of Paris for Transport, France Mohamed Ridouani Vice Mayor of Leuven, Belgium Emmanuel Serunjoji Mayor of Kampala, Uganda Jorge Brand Alderman of Curitiba Brazil Violeta Bulc European Commission Commissioner on Transport Brendan Carr Lord Mayor of Dublin Ireland Aleksandra Dulkiewicz Deputy Mayor of Gdansk, Poland Ivan Tsetsersky Mayor of Pskov, Russia Jan Vermeulen Mayor of Deinze, Belgium José Manuel Viegas Secretary-General, International Transport Forum, OECD Franc Weerwind Mayor of Almere, The Netherlands Bernhard Ensink Secretary General of the European Cyclists Federation, Belgium Jacques Garreau Vice President of Nantes Métropole, France Thomas Geisel Lord Mayor of Dusseldorf, Germany Jean-Baptiste Gernet Deputy Mayor of Strasbourg, France Janez Koželj Deputy Mayor of Ljubljana, Slovenia Peter Kurz Lord Mayor of Mannheim, Germany Pieter Litjens Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam for Transport, The Netherlands Marcelo Crivella Mayor of Rio de Janeiro

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