Overview
The focus of CHAMP is the exchange of good practice and lessons learned in leading cycling cities. The purpose is both to improve the cycling strategies in the CHAMP cities and to share the good practice and lessons learned with other European cities to create safer and more attractive conditions for cycling in Europe.
The main objectives of CHAMP are:
- To raise awareness amongst decision makers in European cities on the economic, ecological and energy efficient benefits of cycling
- To improve expertise on integrated cycling policy through capacity building and exchange of experiences
- To increase cycling in the CHAMP cities by 10 %
- To reach a 1-5% reduction in energy consumption from passenger transport and a reduction of 1-5% in greenhouse gases in the CHAMP cities
- To improve the quality of life within the cities not only through decreasing the use of motorised traffic but also through a better coexistence between cyclists and pedestrians
- To decrease the dependency on fossil fuels by stimulating an economically beneficial transport mode available to all citizens and competitive to motorised traffic
On the basis of the gap analysis all CHAMP cities have drawn up a revised cycling strategy. The strategy includes a description of several measures and actions for filling the gaps pointed out in the CHAMP gap analysis.
The next step is getting internal commitment for the strategy and the implementation of the proposed measures. Experience has shown that involving all key stakeholders from the beginning is an important factor for successful implementation of cycling actions and measures.
To develop an integrated cycling strategy for the longer term, it is important to involve not only the mobility/cycling department but also departments from related areas such as the economy department, health department, social department, urban planning etc.
Implementation plans
Within the CHAMP project the partner cities have implemented at least two of the innovative measures pointed out in their cycling strategy. The two measures fills important gaps in their current cycling policy.
Clear and measurable targets has been set in the implementation plans and a communication plan has been developed for every measure. Evaluation of the measures will be done 15 months after the start of the implementation.
The CHAMP cities uses the MaxSumo-methodology for evaluating the effects of the implemented measures. That means that the evaluation process will start from the beginning of the implementation procedure.
Results
- An increase of 10% of trips done by bike in the CHAMP-cities Groningen, Bolzano, Burgos, Örebro, Edinburgh, Ljubljana and Kaunas.
- A CHAMP performance analysis tool is available (see 'key deliverables'). This tool offers an easy to use procedure for analyzing a city’s cycling strategy in order to fill the gaps.
- Training workshops on involving citizens and on implementing bicycle measures are organized. CHAMP also offers an exchange program open to external cities. At least 20 cities outside the consortium will take part in these training sessions.
- The CHAMP-catalogue will give advice and inspiration to all European cities on how to (further) improve their cycling policy. The catalogue will describe the overall cycling strategy of the leading cycling cities and will be an invitation for on-site visits in the CHAMP-cities.
- Dissemination of the results to policy influencers and decision takers will raise the awareness on the economical, ecological and energy efficient benefits of increased bicycle use in cities. The long term effect of the CHAMP-project is an estimated reduction of 80.000 T CO2/year by 2020.
Other results
Lessons Learned
- Even cycling champion cities can still learn: A city like Groningen has a share of cycling of around 50%. During the project and especially thanks to the peer review visit, Groningen became aware that there are still some areas of improvement. Groningen introduced two innovative measures, one with regard to bicycle parking (a real challenge in the city centre) and one on smart marketing and information campaigns.
- The power of the bicycle accounts: A bicycle account gives an overview of figures, data and ambition of a city with regard to cycling. The bicycle account is at the same time a monitoring tool but also a communication mean showing the interest and progress of cycling in a city. Two CHAMP-cities, Örebro and Ljubljana, developed a bicycle account. This process highlighted gaps in available data, and the cities became aware of the need of having measurable targets and monitoring instruments . In Örebro and in Ljubljana the bicycle account was used by policy makers to explain and motivate further investments in cycling measures. The Ljubljana bicycle account was the first in its kind in the southeastern part of Europe and can be an example for other cities in this region.
- The importance of creating a bicycle culture: Well-designed cycling infrastructure is a condicio sine qua non, but creating a bicycle culture is equally important. It is important to communicate positively and involve relevant stakeholders.