May 16, 2009
 
Abstract: For many years, COLIBI and COLIPED have been asking the European Commission for the appointment of a European Bicycle Officer (EBO). This plea also constituted one of the important elements in the European associations’ Position Paper on the European Urban Transport policy (see heading ‘Position Papers’) and received the support of ECF and ETRA. In the closing session of the recent Velo-City conference in Brussels, a representative of European Transport Commissioner Tajani announced a "nice surprise". It appears that in the long awaited European Action Programme for urban transport, the EC will make the appointment of the European Bicycle Officer official. COLIBI and COLIPED are extremely pleased that the European Commission will meet their request. It clearly shows that the EC has finally acknowledged the importance of the bicycle and the absolute need for a European Bicycle Officer to coordinate all bicycle policies.