The Charter of Seville was launched in preparation for the International Transport Forum (ITF) held in Leipzig in May 2011. It was presented during the Velo-city conference in Seville in March 2011.
The document aimed at the national and transnational level underlining the benefits of cycling as a daily mode of transport, citing improved health, reduced traffic congestion, significantly cheaper infrastructure, and lowered transport emissionsamong many other advantages.
Rather than setting targets, it demanded an overarching and broad political commitment from recognizing the bicycle as a viable mode of transport. The charter specifically called upon all Ministers of Transport convening at the ITF“to promote cycling at international level and to invest substantially in cycling in their own countries during the years to come”.
It seemed to have quite a positive result at the Forum with National Ministers declaring their support for cycling policies during the summit. Read thereport on ITF 2011 here.
ECF Secretary General, Bernard Ensink, unveiled the pioneering document at the closing session of the 2011 Velo-city conference on the 25th of March, 2011.
Manfred Neun, President of ECF, (European Cyclists’ Federation), Antonio Rodrigo Torrijos, the first deputy Mayor of Seville, Manel Villalante, the General Director of the Inland Transport Ministry of Development, Bob Paddon, President of TransLink and Maria Vassilakou, Vice-Mayor and Vice-Governor Vienna, took the lead in signing this groundbreaking document. Manfred Neun invited all the participants of the 17th Velo-city conference to join him in signing the “Charter of Seville”.
Read theCharter of Seville (EN, ES, FR, IT)here.
Want to sign up to the charter?
Signing is easy: send an email to the ECF Senior Policy Officer,Fabian Küsterwith the document signed by the City Mayor or written proof that the City Council has voted in favour of its adoption.