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On October 7th the Luxembourg Presidency of the European Union will host the first meeting of Ministers for Transport dedicated exclusively to cycling as a transport mode. However, Robert Goodwill, the UK’s minister for cycling, won’t be attending. That’s the bad news. The good news is that it’s highly likely that Patrick McLoughlin, the Secretary of State for Transport will be there instead.
The meeting is exclusively dedicated to discussing cycling. The Ministers of European Union and European Free Trade Association member states will discuss how the European Union can encourage and support an increase in cycling’s mode share for the transport of people and goods. The Luxembourg Presidency will stress the efficiency of cycling as a transport mode, as well as cycling’s social, environmental and economic benefits in the European Union.
"Cycling as a Transport Mode" will be held at the European Convention Centre in Luxembourg. The meeting is to be hosted by François Bausch, Minister for Sustainable Development and Infrastructures of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg. Violeta Bulc, the European Commissioner for Transport (and who cycles to work), will attend the meeting. EU Ministers of Transport – apart from ministers from the UK – will be able to go on test rides of city bikes and cargo bikes. Later in the day they will hear presentations from architect Jan Gehl and Mikael Colville Andersen of Copenhagenize.com and CEO of the Copenhagenize Design Company.
In the evening there will be a 2km cycle parade – a Critical Mass of transport ministers – from the Conference Centre to Cercle Cité in the historic centre of Luxembourg city.
The "cycling summit" was suggested by the European Cyclists’ Federation.
