Dafter the World Bicycle Day – which since 2018 has been celebrated every third of Juneis celebrated this year for the first time World Sustainable Transport Day, also proclaimed by the UN for Sunday 26 November 2023. Yet another day dedicated to “something” on the calendar? Rather, it’s an opportunity to leave the car in the garage and finally all of us start moving in a sustainable way.
Sunday is the first World Sustainable Transport Day. Why celebrate it (by bike)
“Riding the transition” is the message that FIAB Italian Federation of the Environment and Bicycle (part of ECF-European Cyclists’ Federation) launches today and will accompany the 2024 membership campaign.
«While the public debate is focused on the complex transition to electric mobilitythe country still cannot comprehend the enormous pedal potential for short daily commutes. A choice that would facilitate the ecological and energy transition quickly and at minimal costs”, explains Fiab president Alessandro Tursi.
Only one year ago, on 15 March 2022, the United Nations General Assembly expressed itself in favor of bicycle with a historic resolution approved unanimously, which recognizes the importance of this medium for the Sustainable Development and how daily carry tool.
From car-centricity to sustainable transport, by bike
The support of the institutions is fundamental so that we can truly take advantage of it. The requests are simple and clear. «We ask to improve the connectivity of the intermodal transport (i.e. the possibility of using public transport with bike in hand, ed.). Promote environmentally friendly solutions. Develop socially inclusive transport infrastructure, focusing on effective communication. We need a global approach to move from the current one self-centered mentality towards a future that puts people at the centre, their safety and health”, concludes Tursi.
An approach that is often missing, as in the DDL on road safety which, as the only “cyclist-saving” measure, prohibits overtaking of bicycles by other vehicles within 1.5 meters of lateral distance. However, a prohibition made vague and therefore inapplicable by the clarification “where road conditions allow it”. For the rest, the rules on cycling weaken all the improvement measures that were introduced into the Code in 2020, with Legislative Decree no. 76.
More cyclists, more safety for everyone
It should also be noted that if road deaths have increased in recent times, cyclists are an exception (-33% mortality in the last ten years, -50% in the last twenty). And this front of a strong increase in cycling mobility, demonstrating the safety in numbers principle. That is, more cyclists, more safety for everyone.
“Riding the transition”, launched on the occasion of World Sustainable Transport Day, is then a daily call to action aimed at everyone. To those who already travel by bike every day and in their free time. And to those who have yet to discover how much it would be best to start to do it: from one point of view both economical and in terms of time, for trips in urban areas, which on average do not exceed 5 kilometers away.
iO Donna © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED