A new study has been published arguing that a modal shift from cars to bicycles will help to cut air pollution in Europe. According to the study, non-technical measures, such as increasing cycling and bringing in restrictions on cars, such as car-free zones, can provide clear improvements in air quality. A core finding was that the stronger the action taken by city authorities, the better the result. Commissioned by the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) and conducted by consultancy Ricardo-AEA, the study examined transport pollutants NOx, NO2 and PM10 using five European cities – Antwerp, London, Nantes, Seville and Thessaloniki – as case studies. According to the ECF, the city of Seville managed to comply with EU limit values for air pollution due to raising the modal share of cycling from 0.5% to 7% through investment in cycling and measures to reduce motorised traffic. There has been mounting concern over the health and economic impact of air pollution in Europe’s urban areas. While EU limits have been introduced, in many cities there remains a failure to comply.
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