The ABC project aims to improve accessibility of cities by integrating cycling into the multimodal transport system and strengthening a sustainable mobility culture. The project follows suggestions of the European GREEN PAPER “Towards a new culture for urban mobility” and implements measures to make towns and cities more fluid, greener, smarter, more accessible and safer, and to reduce traffic barriers. 

In the minds of many decision makers cycling is still not seen as an emancipated transport sector which has to be planned, steered and supported in the same way as for other indisputable types of transport. Cycling was considered to be a local matter for many years and therefore the development in the cities has been very different. Different experiences, traditions and regulations concerning infrastructure, service and policy in the three participating cities Rostock, Kalmar and Gdansk are the background of the cross-border cooperation project. The three municipalities will jointly develop activities with two NGOs contributing knowledge about cycling and cyclists needs. 

The ABC-partners will focus on two main topics:

• Integrating cycling into the multimodal transport system aims at improving conditions for cycling (infrastructure, service). The project partners will develop solutions together with experts (city and traffic planners, traffic engineers, mobility advisors and politicians). Beginning with a master plan the partners will elaborate action plans and plan, implement and evaluate hard and soft measures to integrate cycling. Local users and international experts are involved in a comprehensive participatory process and think tank workshops.
• Integrating cycling into the mobility culture aims at motivating people to cycle. The project partners will jointly develop and implement measures for awareness raising and capacity building, addressing inhabitants (employers, employees, pupils, students, teachers, parents and politicians) with target group oriented cycling campaigns, study trips and seminars for capacity building. An innovative CYCLING MONITOR will be developed to count cyclists and provide service facilities and information for users. This investment will be implemented in Rostock, Gdansk and Kalmar. Together with other counting facilities and a commonly developed evaluation method, the cycling monitor will measure the success of the project even in the long term. 

The expected results are a measurable rising number of cyclists substituting car traffic, raised awareness about the potential of cycling in a multimodal transport system and a visible progress towards a sustainable mobility culture. Two associated organisations will help to disseminate the results in the South Baltic area.