Skip to main content

Helping tackle congestion and sustainability in European traffic

The European Parliament has accepted that powered two-wheelers will play a significant role in sustainable mobility, helping reduce both traffic congestion and pollution. The European Parliament adopted Wim van de Camp’s “Report on the implementation of the 2011 White Paper on Transport: taking stock and the way forward towards sustainable mobility”. In the report motorcycles are seen as part of the solution to solving the problems in urban transport. Powered two wheelers can help tackle congestion and park
September 10, 2015 Read time: 3 mins
RSSThe European Parliament has accepted that powered two-wheelers will play a significant role in sustainable mobility, helping reduce both traffic congestion and pollution. The European Parliament adopted Wim van de Camp’s “Report on the implementation of the 2011 White Paper on Transport: taking stock and the way forward towards sustainable mobility”. In the report motorcycles are seen as part of the solution to solving the problems in urban transport. Powered two wheelers can help tackle congestion and parking problems as well as providing a solution for small logistics. The report also states that the specific design and afferent benefits of these vehicles should be adequately taken into account and reflected in EU transport legislation and guidelines.

In Van de Camp’s report the implementation of the White Paper on Transport, launched by the European Commission in 2011, is evaluated and recommendations are given for the next years. Although this report has no legislative characteristics itself it is the base of many regulations on the wide area of transport. Motorcycles are seen as a way to solve the problems in urban transport by tackling congestion and parking problems as well as providing a solution for small logistics. The report also states that the specific design and afferent benefits of these vehicles should be adequately taken into account and reflected in EU transport legislation and guidelines.

Accepting the report means that the use of motorcycles should be stimulated and facilitated in European cities. This also means that motorcycles and other powered two-wheelers should be considered when new roads are designed but also in the maintenance and design of existing roads. The European Parliament also calls for actions to reduce crashes involving vulnerable road users, in particular users of two-wheeled vehicles (powered and unpowered), pedestrians in urban environments and older drivers. The European Parliament also calls for roads to be designed, monitored and maintained in the same way as the roads that are part of the TEN-T network. In practice this should deliver better design and better maintenance of the road network across the whole of Europe.

FEMA’s General Secretary reacted: “This is the first time that the European Parliament recognizes the importance of motorcycles for transport. We have been saying for a long time, that motorcycles are part of the solution for urban congestion. environment and parking problems. The use of motorcycles should be stimulated and facilitated. In cities like Rome and Paris there would be enormous problems if anybody who now uses a motorcycle or scooter would go by public transport or, even worse, by car. Therefore we are very glad with the report from Wim van de Camp and the adoption of it by the European Parliament and we hope, that the European Commission will do something with it and take adequate action.”

Related Content

  • Wrong time to end right turns?
    March 15, 2024
    Banning right-hand turns after stopping for a red light is gaining momentum in the US. But debate continues about whether it will result in fewer incidents between vehicles and alternative mobility users. David Arminas reports.
  • Improving safety barriers for motorcyclists
    February 20, 2012
    Delays to better barrier safety pose further risks for Europe's powered two wheeled riders. The issue of safety for powered two wheeler riders (PTWRs) is a matter of some debate in Europe. Although Europe's PTWRs make up a mere fraction of the vehicle population, they figure highly in accident statistics. Safety provisions could be improved using available technology but a recent political decision has downgraded the importance of such a move.
  • Road markings and microplastics
    February 2, 2024
    Recent regulations from the European Commission have exempted road markings from microplastic bans and restrictions, at least for the moment, explains to the ERF.
  • PPRS event highlights transport investment shortfall
    April 30, 2015
    The PPRS event in Paris highlighted the need for additional investment in road transportation – David Arminas writes. Consider the global road network. An improved road from one rural African town to another can reduce the journey time from a one-day walk to a one-hour drive. This could save lives through access to a hospital; allow small businesses to work faster by getting in supplies more quickly; allow children to attend a better equipped school. Roads affect society by allowing healthier and bett