EICMA exposition represents a chance not only to explore all the novelties in the cycling market but even to share different opinions about two-wheel world. “2009: the Bike Boom” international forum fulfilled such a steady tradition: well-known international speakers gave a comprehensive overview about recent bike’s evolution, a rising phenomenon now even within Italian borders.
Following the increase of bicycle’s use in the whole Europe, and in particular in way-opening cities like Copenhagen – as testified by
Manfred Neun, President of the
European Amateur Cyclists Association – now also Italy is finally walking on the right path. Standing out to prove it are the success of bike-sharing service in Milan (less than a year after its opening), and of the bicycle’s incentives, approved by a wide majority of the Italian Parliament, represented by Senators
Paolo Giaretta and
Giacomo Santini.
Obviously, there is still a lot to do to enlarge bicycle’s users field, aiming to sustainable mobility and lifestyle improvement; nonetheless, the progressive spread of electric bicycles and the outstanding results achieved by Great Britain with a very focused investment policy, described by former Bicycle Association of UK’s president Eddie Eccleston, are some good reasons to feel optimistic.
The very important role bicycle has had in both Italian history and cultural background, as well as the incredible success Italy has always got in competitions (Italian Cycling Federation President Renato Di Rocco attended the forum too), encouraged this back-to-bike process that we hope is going to last and grow over the next years and generations. Bicycle’s use can be a key on the road to a less polluted world and to fight the global warming process.