EU-Financed Biking Projects

The UrBike Project is an initiative for European inter-regional cooperation within the framework of the Interreg IIIC Community Programme. It focuses on studying contemporary urban problems and mobility, and proposes maximising the use of the bicycle as an alternative and more flexible means of transport within cities.

The idea is to maximise the real integration of bicycles into urban transport systems whilst emphasising its influence on the development of urban planning policies. In order to do this, the project intends to draw maximum attention to the positive effects that the full integration of the bicycle will have on urban roads.

It does so basically using a method: first identify which obstacles are limiting the use of bicycle in each partner city, then try to solve these obstacles through proper local projects in each partner city.

UrBike develops its activites in three main directions:
- Local Projects, for each partner;
- Demonstration Investments, in Florence and Sevilla: small urban infrastructures that will be realized through the cooperation of the nine European cities working together to define and achieve them;
- Thematic Working Groups: groups for exchange experience on particular issues, as how to deal with bike parking, or how to better promote use of bicycle.

The 8 cities from the different countries which are taking part in the project are : Seville (Spain), Florence (Italy), Frederiksberg (Denmark), Dresden (Germany), IId district of Budapest (Hungary), Kielce (Poland), Xanthis (Greece), and Mesa Yitonia (Cyprus). The Steering Committee is composed of representatives from each participating city.

The UrBike Project is to be developed over a three year period, starting on the 1st of January 2004 and finishing on the 31st of December 2006, on a overall budget of 1.510.000 euro.

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