The European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF), in partnership with Content With Purpose (CWP), is launching a comprehensive film series examining the societal, economic, and health impacts of cycling across Europe. Set for release on September 17, 2026, the digital collection features productions filmed across 21 countries, cities, and regions, ranging from Finland to Spain.
According to the ECF, the initiative is designed to support the implementation of the European Declaration on Cycling, which formally recognizes cycling as a sustainable, affordable, and accessible mode of transport. The overarching goal of the series is to translate high-level policy commitments into everyday urban transformations through case studies and expert analysis.
Six Core Themes of the European Cycling Film Series
The productions are organized into six distinct thematic areas, each addressing a specific dimension of active mobility:
- Cycling economies: Explores employment, industrial manufacturing, and regional economic development tied to cycling infrastructure.
- Health on two wheels: Investigates direct correlations between regular cycling and physical and mental well-being.
- Designing the cycling city: Showcases urban infrastructure projects and integrated public transport systems.
- Pedalling towards a climate-positive future: Documents municipal emission reductions and improvements in urban air quality.
- Innovation in motion: Highlights ongoing research, product engineering, and emerging transportation technologies.
- Cycling without borders: Focuses on cross-border cycling routes and the expansion of sustainable cycle tourism.
The material comprises 16 documentary films, seven in-depth expert interviews, 12 thought-leadership films, one explanatory film, and three detailed regional case studies.
Policy Context and Mobility Data
Data highlighted by the ECF indicate that one-third of the EU population fails to meet recommended physical activity levels. Meanwhile, private automobiles account for 50 percent of all trips and over 70 percent of person-kilometers traveled across the EU.
Furthermore, the European transport sector generates a quarter of the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions, with road transport responsible for roughly three-quarters of those emissions. Public health authorities, including the World Health Organization, point to active mobility initiatives like walking and cycling as cost-effective strategies for increasing physical activity and mitigating non-communicable diseases.
“The series shows how much cycling can bring to society as a whole,” said Laurianne Krid, CEO of the European Cyclists’ Federation. “Cycling is connected with mobility, but also plays a key role in improving public health, increasing sustainability, and supporting the European economy. It helps communities build bridges between age groups, abilities, and backgrounds.”
Institutional Partners and Expert Contributors
The production involved collaboration with a broad coalition of municipal governments, research institutions, and advocacy organizations. Participating partners include the Central Denmark Region, the cities of Brno, Groningen, and the Helsinki Urban Environment Division, alongside Cyclehoop, ETH Zürich, the European Commission, Flanders, Kalkhoff Bikes, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Lyft Urban Solutions, Pomorskie Tourist Board, Provincie Gelderland, RedBici.org, and SDCC.
Expert commentary throughout the series is provided by specialists from across the continent, including Áron Halász, head of the active and micromobility group at the Municipality of Budapest; Anastasiia Makarenko, executive director of U-Cycle; Carole Straub, head of cycling promotion at Pro Velo Switzerland; Dr. Caroline Lodemann, executive director of the Allgemeine Deutscher Fahrrad-Club; Ruth Lamas Borraz, head of the metropolitan bicycle office at the Área Metropolitana de Barcelona; Sarah Whitebread, head of policy and public affairs at Cycling UK; and Sheila Watson, deputy director of the FIA Foundation.
Max Smith, founder and managing director of CWP, emphasized the practical focus of the project. “This series brings practical solutions and personal stories from across Europe together and shows that healthier, better connected, and more sustainable places are not a distant ambition,” Smith stated.
The ECF and CWP are making the complete series available free of charge starting September 17, 2026, encouraging media outlets, public authorities, educational institutions, and cycling advocacy groups to utilize the resources for public discussions on the future of European mobility.
Worth a look