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Summary

A big thank you to all those who participated at Sustainable2Wheels on Tuesday 18 September.

Taking place on the esplanade of the European Parliament and in Luxembourg Station from 9 a.m. till 3 p.m, Sustainable2Wheels was a demonstration of contemporary bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters and motorcycles, particularly suited for urban transport. Visitors had ample opportunity to test the vehicles on show. The demonstration was also open to companies who presented modern, innovative components or accessories for urban 2Wheels.

Speakers include

Janez Potočnik

Janez Potočnik

EU Commissioner for the Environment

European Commission

Isabelle Durant

Isabelle Durant

Vice-President

European Parliament

Fotis Karamitsos

Fotis Karamitsos

Deputy Director-General, DG MOVE

European Commission

Matthias Groote

Matthias Groote

Chair, ENVI Committee

European Parliament

Bruno De Lille

Bruno De Lille

Secretary of State

Brussels Capital Region

 

Further details

 

Sustainable 2Wheels took place in the framework of the European Commission’s Mobility Week, see http://www.mobilityweek.eu

 

With Sustainable 2Wheels, ETRA aimed to inform the visitors on the wide variety of 2Wheel solutions to facilitate urban transport and on their benefits in the field of environment, transport, public health, etc.

Furthermore, the objective of Sustainable 2Wheels was to show decision-makers and their staff in the European Parliament, Commission, Council and other European institutions what huge potential 2Wheels offer for making urban transport more sustainable.

 

This year, for the first time, all types of Powered Two-Wheelers were fully included in the event. PTWs, such as scooters and motorcycles, can offer a great solution for users who seek alternatives to individual mobility in congested cities. Embracing different forms of transport for different parts of a journey, thus reducing travel times, costs and environmental impact, will be considerably easier if PTWs are added to the possible alternatives. Smaller, lighter and very well adapted to the challenges of urban traffic, PTWs were for the first time taking part in ETRA’s Mobility Week event with an exciting line-up of innovative, fuel efficient and enjoyable vehicles.

 

There was also a special emphasis on the combination between 2Wheel use and public transport. Part of the demonstration took place in the Luxembourg station (adjacent to the esplanade), which allowed us for the very first time to address a more general public as well. In the Luxembourg station, different types of organisations presented their activities and/or specific projects for the promotion of 2Wheels in particular and sustainable mobility in general.

The TRAN Committee of the European Parliament also organised an official Mobility Week event, by means of a hearing which took place in the European Parliament (room JAN 2Q2) on the afternoon of 18 September from 15:00 - 16:30. Representatives of the cities of Bologna, Vilnius and Gent testified for the TRAN Committee on their experiences in making transport more sustainable. ETRA and the European Parliament agreed to link both events. This meant among other things that participants in Sustainable 2Wheels also had the opportunity to attend the European Parliament hearing.

Sustainable 2Wheels featured a number of peripheral events;

 

  • During the demonstration, the Brussels cycling organisation Provelo guided short bike rides with start and finish at the European Parliament and passing the European Commission and Council. The route used is the one that European policy makers would effectively use should they do their service trips by bike.
  • Security Engraving was offered by CycleLogistics and the European Parliament Mobility Point.
  • Furthermore, ETRA invited visitors to a bikers’ breakfast (offered courtesy of the Greens/EFA in the European Parliament) between 9 and 10 and to lunch between 12 and 1.


Sustainable 2Wheels is an ETRA initiative, hosted this year in association with ACEM. Other partners in the event are the European Greens, Forum Europe and UEAPME, the European SME umbrella organisation of which ETRA is an associate member.


For more information on the event's activities, please contact Charlene Selmer on +44 (0) 2920 783 024 / charlene.selmer@forum-europe.com for further information.

 

You will see below some highlights from this year's event:

 

 

Logistics

When

Tuesday 18 September, 2012
09.00 to 16.30

CET

 

Where

Esplanade of the European Parliament

Rue Wiertz 60
1047 Brussels

Google location map

 

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