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Cycling and Walking Take Center Stage in European Urban Policy

Europe-wide strategies are making cycling and walking priority pillars for cleaner, healthier, and more inclusive cities.

By Medha deb

Created on Sep 27, 2025

Europe-wide strategies are making cycling and walking priority pillars for cleaner, healthier, and more inclusive cities.

The European Commission has placed cycling and walking at the heart of its urban mobility strategy, signaling a major shift toward healthier, more sustainable, and inclusive cities. Through ambitious policy frameworks, awareness efforts, and infrastructure investments, Europe is actively working to reimagine urban spaces to serve people over cars—benefiting both the environment and society at large.

Why Europe Is Prioritizing Active Mobility

Active mobility—walking and cycling—delivers a multitude of benefits:

Health: Active lifestyles improve cardiovascular health, reduce obesity, and lower healthcare costs.
Environment: Walking and cycling produce zero emissions, cut air and noise pollution, and reduce urban congestion.
Inclusivity: These modes are accessible across age groups and income levels, providing affordable mobility.
Economic: Investment in cycling and walking supports local businesses and stimulates the cycling and micro-mobility industries.

The European Urban Mobility Framework and the European Declaration on Cycling both reflect this philosophy, calling for cities to design mobility systems that promote active travel, decarbonization, and safety.

Key European Policies and Declarations

Several landmark initiatives set the tone for Europe’s new direction in urban transport:

European Urban Mobility Framework

Adopted to guide cities toward sustainable mobility, it emphasizes:

Making active mobility central to urban transport planning
Integrating sustainable urban mobility plans (SUMPs) as a precondition for funding
Protecting vulnerable road users with the ‘safe system’ approach
Encouraging employers to develop workplace incentives for walking and cycling

European Declaration on Cycling

Signed jointly by the European Parliament, Commission, and Council in 2024, this declaration:

Recognizes cycling as vital for climate, mobility, and public health objectives
Advocates for safe, connected cycling infrastructure—including low-income neighborhoods
Urges affordable access to bikes via leasing programs and shared schemes
Paves the way for dedicated EU funding and technical standards for cycling

European Mobility Week: Awareness in Action

European Mobility Week (EMW), held annually each September, serves as the continent’s flagship event promoting green mobility. Cities and citizens participate in thousands of activities, with highlights that include:

Car-Free Day on September 22, when urban roads are reserved for people instead of vehicles
The European Steps Challenge, where participants collectively walked over one billion steps in 2025—equivalent to circling the globe 20 times
Awareness campaigns, walking/cycling tours, and creative city initiatives aimed at encouraging long-term behavior change

2025’s theme, ‘Mobility for Everyone,’ highlighted accessibility and affordability, emphasizing the need for systems that work for all, including those with reduced mobility or limited income.

Case Study: The European Steps Challenge

In 2025, 577 cities from 46 countries participated in the challenge. Top cities came from Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, Spain, Germany, Turkey, and Italy. Many participants walked over 400,000 steps individually, with every city and participant recognized for their collective achievements.

Turning Policy into Concrete Action

Moving from vision to results, the European Union and partners specify a range of practical steps to accelerate the shift to active mobility:

Establishing EU-wide standards for bike infrastructure quality
Assessing the suitability of current funding programs for bike infrastructure
Re-examining national traffic rules—such as introducing citywide 30 km/h speed limits—to make streets safer for cyclists and pedestrians
Linking urban mobility funding to cities’ progress on sustainable urban mobility plans (SUMPs)
Developing clusters of cycling-related businesses and supporting cycling tourism and logistics
Prioritizing mobility for people with reduced mobility through inclusive design and policy

Building Accessible and Inclusive Infrastructure

For cycling and walking to thrive, experts stress the importance of safe, dedicated, and connected infrastructure:

Dedicated bike lanes and safe intersections reduce risk for cyclists and encourage use by families, children, and older citizens.
Accessible bike leasing and sharing schemes help more residents afford and choose bikes over cars.
Connecting low-income areas to job centers and public transport with active mobility corridors helps “leave no one behind.”

City governments are also encouraged to:

Allocate street space to active travel, not just cars
Install secure bike parking, lighting, and signage
Enforce speed limits and develop awareness campaigns targeting both drivers and non-drivers

Health, Climate, and Community Benefits

Investments in walking and cycling yield broad, measurable rewards:

Improved Air Quality: Less vehicle traffic cuts air pollution in dense urban areas, directly benefiting children, older adults, and people with respiratory conditions.
Lower Carbon Emissions: Active mobility makes citywide climate targets more achievable, reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
Public Health: More walking and cycling contribute to lower rates of chronic disease, improved mental health, and reduced healthcare costs.
Community and Economic Revitalization: Streets designed for people encourage community interaction, benefit local shops, and make neighborhoods more livable.

Cycling and Walking: The Fastest-Growing Mobility Segments

Recent trends show a surge in demand for both cycling and walking:

E-bikes are Europe’s fastest-growing e-mobility sector, making longer daily trips feasible for a broader group, including older adults.
Bike sharing and micro-mobility options increase uptake of sustainable modes even where personal bike ownership is low.
Awareness campaigns—including World Bicycle Day—anchor cycling and walking within European and international mobility policies.

Challenges and the Road Ahead

Despite major progress, Europe faces several ongoing challenges:

Infrastructure Gaps: Many cities still lack safe, continuous bike networks connecting all neighborhoods and public transport hubs.
Behavioral Change: Persuading habitual drivers to switch to active travel requires incentives, awareness, and consistent, high-quality facilities.
Funding: Shifting investment toward active mobility amid tight municipal budgets remains a political challenge.

However, ongoing policy developments, sharing of successful city models, and EU-wide targets are rapidly overcoming these barriers. Progress reports and annual reviews keep momentum strong while identifying the next areas for action.

Success Stories: Leading Cities Across Europe

Many European cities stand out for their innovative efforts and rapid progress:

Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda (Lithuania): Regularly topping step and cycling challenges, these cities invest in awareness campaigns and new bike corridors.
Rīga (Latvia), Bucharest (Romania), A Coruña (Spain), Wuppertal (Germany), Eskişehir (Turkey), Marcon (Italy): Each has implemented car-free zones, expanded bike infrastructure, or incentivized cycling among residents.

Regardless of size or geography, the cities making the most progress are those that pair vision with action, setting measurable targets, and building coalitions among government, business, and civil society.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is ‘active mobility’ and why is it important?

‘Active mobility’ refers to physical modes of transportation such as walking and cycling. These forms are crucial for reducing emissions, improving public health, making cities more inclusive, and creating lively urban spaces.

How does the European Union support cycling infrastructure?

The EU provides both funding and policy guidance, requiring cities to adopt sustainable urban mobility plans (SUMPs), setting quality standards for infrastructure, and incentivizing projects that protect vulnerable road users.

What makes a city ‘cycling-friendly’?

Cycling-friendly cities prioritize connected, safe bike lanes; offer secure parking; enforce lower speed limits; create incentives for bike ownership and sharing; and foster a strong cycling culture through education and events.

What are the main obstacles to universal adoption of walking and cycling?

The biggest challenges include incomplete infrastructure, perception of risk, lack of awareness or incentives, and insufficient integration with other forms of transport.

How are inclusivity and accessibility addressed?

Policies focus on designing infrastructure usable by all ages and abilities, providing affordable options like bike leasing, and connecting underserved neighborhoods with employment and essential services.

Conclusion

Europe’s growing commitment to walking and cycling marks a pivotal moment in urban mobility policy. The blend of ambitious declarations, concrete implementation plans, and engaging public campaigns underscores a vision: cities designed for people, where everyone enjoys healthy, clean, and accessible mobility options. As European cities continue to share successes and lessons learned, they provide a roadmap for transitioning urban spaces toward an equitable, vibrant, and low-carbon future.

References

Author

medha deb

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

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