UITP, ECF Join Forces

On Sept. 14, International Association of Public Transport (UITP) and ECF (European Cyclists’ Federation) met to sign the very first Memorandum of Understanding between the two structures. The agreement will see the two work more closely on policy initiatives in order to strengthen the voice of sustainable urban transport.

ECF and UITP have worked together for several years, both members of the SLoCaT Partnership (Sustainable Low Carbon Transport) and ECF being part of the UITP Combined Mobility Platform, and decided to take the relationship a step further. Both organisations will work closer together to achieve more sustainable and active mobility in Europe and support each other’s missions to “Double Cycling” and “Double Public Transport”. For Europe, this would mean 15% of all trips to be cycled and doubling the modal share of public transport by 2025, which would result in more liveable and performing cities, contribute to green growth, and fight against climate change. Both parties see the benefits of an enhanced partnership to establish a stronger lobby position when talking to the European Institutions or the United Nations.

Bernhard Ensink, Secretary General ECF said, “It is an important year to work together on the COP 21 and create impact in the process of the Sustainable Development Goals.”

“Signing this Memorandum to kick off European Mobility Week 2015 marks a timely occasion to further strengthen ties between the public transport and cycling communities and unite to call for more sustainable mobility choices worldwide,” said UITP Secretary General Alain Flausch.

The signature starts a more intensive collaboration process for the development of policy messages on economic benefits of sustainable mobility, public health, transport policy, and urban mobility data collection.