Governance

Henk Swarttouw – President

The members of the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) elected me to its board in May 2019 and in May 2021 I was elected President of ECF.

ECF is the European umbrella federation of member-based civil society organisations advocating and working for more and better cycling for all. We promote cycling as a sustainable and healthy means of transport and leisure. We have more than 60 member organisations from over 40 countries, as well as a number of associated members outside Europe. Our vision for 2030:

⇒ More cycling: Increase cycling levels in the whole of Europe by at least 50%by 2030

⇒ Safer cycling: Reduce the rate of cyclists killed or seriously injured in road collisions by at least 50% by 2030

⇒ Stronger political support: Cycling to be prioritised by policymakers at all levels as a sustainable and healthy part of the mobility mix

⇒ Higher investment: EU funding for cycling to increase to at least € 6 billion in the 2021-2027 budget cycle

To achieve these objectives we deliver the following activities and outputs:

⇒ Evidence-based advocacy, coalitions and campaigns

⇒ Innovative research and thought-leadership, projects and initiatives

⇒ Provision of tools, resources and trainings

⇒ Coordination and development of the EuroVelo cycle route network

⇒ Organisation of Velo-city, the premier international planning conference on cycling

To achieve all this we run an office in Brussels with around 20 FTE, headed by Jill Warren, CEO. The past two years have not been easy on ECF and we have not fully recovered yet. Presently we therefore have limited capacity to invest in WCA and global cycling advocacy.

The combined challenges of the COVID19 pandemic and the climate crisis on the other hand have made abundantly clear that cycling will be part of the solution to the challenges that our societies are facing. Other interesting trends in this respect are the rapid rise of the electric bicycle, the growing role of cycle logistics in urban contexts, the increasing interest in cycling tourism and leisure cycling and the conceptual emergence of intermodality to include cycling in multi-modal transport policies.

Emmanuel John – Africa

I am a founding member and current President of the Africa Urban Cycling Organisation, an umbrella body of cycling NGOS, civil society, academics, Individuals and other stakeholders in Africa. I am a sustainable transport expert with 24yrs experience in urban transport and traffic safety both at government and NGO levels, Founder/Director of Africa Sustainable Urban Mobility Course and Open Streets Abuja initiative, host of the Capital City Cycling Championship, Board Member of the Cycling Federation of Nigeria, National facilitator of activities marking the World Bicycle Day in Nigeria, amongst others. I have been leading the advocacy for NMT inclusion in urban mobility and providing leadership in NMT and public transport policy development at national, regional and city levels. I live in Abuja and involved in different sustainable urban mobility initiatives across Africa, including as Chair of the Capacity Building for NGOs and Civil Society at the UNEP/WALK21 Africa Network for Walking and Cycling. I am committed to the visions of WCA and AUCO respectively, as they both align with my passion to see residents cycle as a lifestyle in cities of Africa and the world, hence, I join other leaders for the purpose of raising the bar of leadership required for the needed transformation, now and always.

Christian Haag – Oceania

In 2005, Christian joined Bicycle SA and found a strong personal sense of purpose in an organisation that sought to get more people riding a bike.
In working to realise whole-of-community behaviour change toward cycling, Christian has taken national leadership roles in several key areas viz. Project Director of Cycle Tourism Australia, which worked to develop the cycle tourism sector through the release of an online regional cycle tourism resource kit. In 2008, he formed the national working group tasked to research a business model that would successfully develop the ‘tracks and trails’ sector through a range of partnerships with business, government and community. Current work sees the ongoing development of a cycling innovation cluster that will deliver stronger partnerships between the bicycle industry and new-tech sectors as well as the formation of a MaaS consortium for local area services.

Chengnon Hsu – Taiwan

Chengnon received his doctorate degree in environmental engineering discipline in 1997. After 8 years as a college professor in the field, he started a bicycle company, Rikulau, in 2006.  Later, Chengnon joined Formosa Lohas Cycling Association in Taiwan, and acted as the president of FLCA since 2017.  FLCA promotes cycling mainly through cycle tourism, tour guide training, and holding bicycle related activities.

Ana Carboni – South America

Ana Carboni is first and foremost a Brazilian cycling advocate. She holds a degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Human Resource Management and has lived and worked in Brazil, the UK, and Uruguay, returning to Niterói, her hometown, in 2014 and engaging in the promotion of the bicycle as a viable, cheap, healthy, and sustainable means of transportation in Brazilian cities since then. Currently, she is the President of the Brazilian Cyclists’ Union, a member of Bike Anjo’s network, and BYCS’ Bicycle Mayor.

I believe in the power of the bicycle as a tool to positively transform societies and cities, especially in South America. Most countries in the region still maintain the tradition of privileging individual motorized transportation over other means. In Brazil, studies have shown that most urban journeys are completed on foot (36%), followed by public transport (30%) and bicycles (4%). However, infrastructure for pedestrians, cyclists, and public transportation only occupies 20% of road space. Owning a motorized vehicle is a status symbol here and our increasing levels of motorization reflect that. Changing this scenario demands a change in mentality and culture, and having a voice in the international arena, being able to be heard and learn through the World Cycling Alliance network is extremely important.

I am very much committed to the task of strengthening the region’s participation in WCA, as I believe we can make a positive impact to improve cycling conditions.

D V Manohar – India

Mr. D V Manohar is The Founding Chairman of Shri Shakti Group, active in Hospitality, Education, LPG and Solar Power
Mr. Manohar is also Chairman of Hyderabad Bicycling Club (HBC). Under his leadership, HBC has grown from 800 members in 2011 to present 6050 members and emerged as the World’s largest cycling club on Meetup.
He has successfully finished along with his daughter Deekshita and son Dharmin the 500 km long London to Paris Cycle Challenge in the year 2011 and repeated it in 2013 with Dharmin.