ECF Board Elections 2021 - Call for candidates

European Cyclists’ Federation

ECF is the European umbrella federation of civil society organisations advocating and working for more and better cycling for all in Europe. ECF brings together around 70 member organisations from over 40 countries around Europe. We promote cycling as a sustainable and healthy means of transport and leisure. We harness the power and influence of the European cycling movements to create a powerful civil society voice for cycling in Europe.

The ECF Board is composed of a president, a treasurer and up to six additional board members, working closely together, ensuring that the interests of our members are pursued all year long.

ECF is looking for 3 new board members and a new President for the period 2021-2024 who will help lead us in this exciting new era. There has never been a better time to promote cycling!


ECF BOARD ELECTIONS 2021 - APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

ECF board elections 2021 - Call for candidates for President
ECF board elections 2021 - President
ECF board elections 2021 - Call for board member candidates
ECF board elections 2021 - Board Members

Interested?

Please send your applications by 1 February 2021 to Jette Gotsche jette.gotsche@gmail.com, member of the ECF Nomination Committee. The elections will take place at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Brussels on 23-24 April 2021.


For further information, please contact:

Alessandro Tursi (aletursi@inwind.it), Jette Gotsche (jette.gotsche@gmail.com) or William Nederpelt (w.nederpelt@fietsersbond.nl)





CYCLE IN THE NEW YEAR

Cycling advocates from around the country took to the roads on New Year's Day 2021, to stretch their legs, enjoy their surroundings, and show support for the government’s plans to allocate increased funding for cycle infrastructure.

This invitation to ‘Cycle in the New Year’ was an action led by The Rural Cycling Collective, a subgroup of Cyclist.ie - the Irish Cycling Advocacy Network, recently formed to draw attention to the dire need for a cohesive strategy to create safe cycling for all, beyond the borders of the main cities.

"Because our rural groups have fewer members, we often struggle with lack of resources and ability to connect with Local Authorities and so we have created a network across the country to highlight our common issues. Rural Ireland has many miles of smaller boreen roads that, if signposted and designated for slower traffic, could transform the way we can all move around the Irish countryside" said Allison Roberts of the Clonakilty Bicycle Festival pictured here with her son Ari.

“Rural Ireland is rich with natural beauty and cycling tourism is on the rise. This year we’ve all had to stay close to home and, for many of us, our bikes have given us the freedom we so badly needed - and physical and mental space.” She continued "we also have smaller town centres with schools and local amenities within a stone's-throw of residential areas, but nearly all children are driven to school because the roads are viewed as not being safe enough for cycling. Often, speed limits in towns are too high with little to no infrastructure for safe cycling. However, we are happy that some of our groups are now in talks with councils around the country to help solve these issues and strategise on the best way to spend the government funds allocated for active travel.” We are all aware that this school-going generation needs to become more active generally, and what better way than by simply building in safe and secure methods of active travel to the everyday school journey?

The Rural Cycling Collective launched their Vision for Cycling in Rural Ireland during National Bike Week in September 2020 and printed copies of the Vision were sent to Local Authority Chief Executive Officers and Directors of Service for Transport and Infrastructure nationwide. "Our goal is to work closely with our government and local bodies to build plans for each locality that will shape the future and make the best use of government resources. We are very excited to be in the process of opening dialogues with some Local Authorities already, and we look forward to all that is happening to improve everyday cycling in 2021 and beyond" said Joan Swift of Sligo Cycling Campaign.

Before Christmas, Local Authorities were invited by Eamon Ryan, Minister of Transport, to submit suggested plans for active travel projects to his Department for consideration - see €50M Walking and Cycling fund announced for towns and villages. This is a wonderful opportunity for rural Local Authorities to get things active in their areas.

Taoiseach, Micheal Martin, has also signalled to Local Authorities that his government will fund any greenway project they have as part of its response to climate change as reported in the Meath Chronicle on 30 December 2020. Allison Roberts from the Clonakilty Bicycle Festival warmly welcomed this statement.

Cyclist.ie hopes that by the end of 2021, we will have a whole swathe of new high quality cycling facilities both in rural and urban areas. Dr. Damien Ó Tuama, National Cycling Coordinator with Cyclist.ie and An Taisce, added that “we are happy to work with Local Authorities countrywide - both in urban and rural areas - so that we can build on the change in the culture of mobility that has happened in 2020. These are exciting times for the growth of everyday cycling.”


For further photos from the ‘Cycle in the New Year’ action, see link