Environmental effects of cycling underestimated

3/05/2004 | Bron(nen): Etra

The Dutch Cyclists’ Federation and the Environment and Nature Planning Bureau have calculated the possible effect of cycling on CO2 emissions. If all car journeys up to 7.5 km would be replaced by cycling trips, CO2 emissions would decrease by 2.4 million tons per year. This is a 6% reduction of Dutch car traffic emissions and 1/8th of the Dutch objectives in the framework of the Kyoto Protocol.

For the Cyclists’ Federation this is a real eye-opener. Hugo van der Steenhoven, the Cyclists’ Federation director commented: "The bicycle can have a much bigger contribution to driving back greenhouse gases than what was generally assumed. We can achieve a major part of our Kyoto objectives at a relatively low cost. Politicians and administrators should realise that measures to promote cycling are very lucrative."

The Cyclists’ Federation alto studied the effects of the current government plans to reduce traffic emissions. Stimulating the use of bio-fuels can result in a reduction of 2.1 million tons CO2 per year, which is less than what can be achieved by cycling. Another measure is a tax benefit of € 6,000 for the purchase of a hybrid car. In order to achieve the same as through cycling, this measure should result in 3.7 million hybrid cars in Holland. That is more than half of the Dutch fleet and it would cost € 220 billion.

The Cyclists’ Federation asks for € 850 million for the promotion of cycling usage.