ICC on the European stage

European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) AGM 2025 – Utrecht, Holland

The Irish Cycling Campaign (ICC) is the Irish member of the ECF, and has been an active member of this important European federation since our establishment ICC has regularly been represented at ECF’s Annual General Meetings, and despite our small size compared to the main European cycling advocacy organisations we have even had representation at ECF board level and on a number of working groups.

Our membership of ECF has been really important in connecting us to EU policy development, and as we continue to grow and develop as a cycling advocacy organisation, in helping us learn from our European partners.

This year the ECF AGM was held in the historic and beautiful city of Utrecht and also celebrated the 50th anniversary of the founding of Fietsersbond, the Dutch cycling advocacy organisation. I* was privileged to represent the Irish Cycling Campaign at this gathering on 16th and 17th of May last, among over 50 delegates from across Europe. It is a wonderful opportunity to mix and socialise and learn from the many different cultures and types of organisations that are spread across Europe east and west. Of course we in Ireland are on the western periphery of Europe, but there are a large number of mainly small organisations on the eastern fringe from Ukraine to the Balkans, right down to Turkey!

Above: The English Speaking country delegation! R to L – Graham Watson, Scottish ECF Board member, Sarah Mitchell CEO Cycling UK, and yours truly Colm Ryder ICC

As background, it is interesting to note that the province of Utrecht, with a population not dissimilar to the Greater Dublin Area, of 1.4 million has a total length of 1850km of dedicated cycle tracks, and only 300km of roads! But the Roads budget is 3 times the cycling budget! The City of Utrecht also houses the largest secure bike park in the world, with a capacity of 12,500 bikes – see my (slightly shaky!) video below.

Like most AGMs the main business is agreeing the annual report and electing the new Board members. This was done very straightforwardly and the new Board can be seen on the ECF webpage HERE, with representation from across Europe both male and female. Highlights of 2024 are posted HERE. The full 2024 annual report is yet to be published. This year, Jill Warren, the present CEO is stepping down, as she is moving domicile. She has been a powerhouse at the head of ECF, and has left a fine legacy. Jill, who is an American married to a Dutchman, has a daughter studying in Dublin! She can be seen in the photo below with myself, the Irish Cycling Campaign delegate. The search for a new CEO is active and the successful candidate is expected to be announced shortly.

Three new full members of ECF made presentations and were voted by the AGM into ECF. Its interesting that they are all Balkan entries: Institute for Urban Mobility-Serbia, HerzegovinaBike-Bosnia and Herzegovina, Maribor Cycling Network-Slovenia.

Six further associate members made presentations and were welcomed on board. These were:
Wheels for Wellbeing-UK, Active Mobility-Albania, Cycling Family Partnership Organisation-Mongolia, Cycling Without Age-Denmark, Pikala Bikes-Morocco, Organisation for Positive Urbanism (OPU)-Cyprus

Check out the unique and amusing video from Pikala Bikes, Morocco. We could maybe learn from their energy and humour!

A workshop presided over by 5 female CEOs of some of the major Cycling Advocacy organisations in Europe was wonderful to hear and see. See image above. The CEOs were, from left to right, Germany, Holland, France, Belgium, & UK.

These organisations range in size from 3,000 members (Belgium Fietsersbond) to 250,000 members in Germany’s ADFC – putting it up to us to increase our membership numbers! A particular issue confronting these organisations is a so-called ‘Bikelash’, a very right wing response to the emphasis on active travel and taking space from the motor vehicle! This Bikelash phenomenon was echoed by many other organisations represented at the AGM. But France has responded with its own special call to citizens, by adding ‘Mobilité’ to the French carrion clarion call of ‘Liberté, Fraternité, Egalité…..Mobilité’! A nice touch!

And finally, of course, post AGM, there was the traditional cycling trip to view the standard of cycling infrastructure, and the sights of Utrecht! It was a whirlwind visit that also took in the hugely impressive 12,500 bike space bike park among other sights.