About PRESTO
This section contains all information about PRESTO. Learn what the project output is and how you can benefit from it; who we are (Partnership) and what we do. Also find here the archive of the latest news from the cities and the electronic Newsletters.
What is PRESTO?
PRESTO is a project to promote cycling in Europe
In some European cities, cycling is already a significant transport mode, but cycling still has a huge potential that has yet to be activated. PRESTO will remove likely barriers and help to develop a real cycling culture in European cities. Five European cities – Bremen (Germany), Grenoble (France), Tczew (Poland), Venice (Italy) and Zagreb (Croatia), with varying levels of cycling mode share – provide an ideal arena to address the undeveloped potentials of cycling. PRESTO activities in these cities focus on improved infrastructure planning and targeted promotion to encourage the use of bicycles (including pedelecs). Pedelecs are electrically assisted pedal bicycles on which you have to pedal to get moving. Pedelecs differ from e-bikes which have a motor which can function independently of whether you pedal or not.
PRESTO works on 3 thematic pillars
- Infrastructure planning: well-planned infrastructure is key in increasing cycling uptake. PRESTO will give advice in order to develop sound plans for practical and safe cycling conditions.
- Promotion of urban cycling: in order to help to change attitudes towards cycling, information is of key importance. Targeted information and other soft measures will encourage people to get on their bikes, and they will begin to appreciate the possibilities and opportunities available for cyclists. In this way, people will change their perceptions, and a real cycling culture can become a reality.
- Promotion of pedelecs: pedelecs provide the choice of cycling to those who may not normally be considered within standard cycling promotion schemes: such as the elderly, or people who live in very hilly areas. Promotion of pedelecs among these groups will enlarge the audience for the uptake of cycling.
PRESTO is the first European project to involve bike dealers
The European trade association for bicycle dealers (ETRA), partner in PRESTO, aims to make local bicycle dealers better aware of the need for an appropriate bicycle offer for urban cycling. PRESTO will be organising so-called “try-out days” in the five PRESTO cities with a view to familiarising road users with the phenomenon of electrically assisted pedal bikes and with its possibilities. A Policy Guideline and a number of Fact Sheets on pedelecs will be available on the PRESTO website.
Approach
PRESTO aims to improve energy efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions and air pollutions by increasing the modal share of cycling in cities. PRESTO aims also at increasing traffic safety for cyclists through better infrastructure and training, and at improving public health by promoting physical activity.
How do we do that?
Set of tools for policy makers and city planners
PRESTO will prepare three Policy guidelines for urban decision makers all over Europe:- on cycling infrastructure (covering riding bicycle, standing bicycle and interchanges);
- on promotion of urban cycling (covering benefits, ways and effects) and
- on promotion of pedelecs (covering user groups, the market, opportunities) and several Fact sheets for infrastructure, promotion and pedelecs, giving concrete implementation advice for selected topics. Through modularised on-site training sessions and e-learning classes, interested stakeholders will be trained by selected experts and will gain knowledge on different cycling issues and policies.
Local activities in the cities
Within PRESTO, the five cities involved will develop infrastructure implementation plans covering lane networks and bicycle parking. The plans will be the basis for establishing a real cycling culture in the cities. Several promotional activities will take place in all PRESTO cities, such as bicycle festivals and events, bike to work campaigns, multigenerational cycling promotion, cycling promotion for students or a bicycle race. The measures will improve the image of cycling and show that cycling is fancy, healthy, and good for shape. Within the scope of PRESTO, pedelecs (electrically assisted pedal bicycles) will be demonstrated at several events in each partner city. Citizens will get the chance to test pedelecs and thus to see for themselves the advantages and the range of application of such electric bicycles.
How can you benefit from it?
In the long term, PRESTO aims to create the basis for a European knowledge centre of cycling expertise. PRESTO provides a range of information material on cycling, and opportunities for stakeholders to take part in training events:
- implementation Fact sheets on different cycling issues in six languages
- three Policy guidelines for each of the PRESTO pillars
- on-site training events in the five PRESTO cities
- e-learning classes
- an e-learning tool that will be ready for use after the end of the project
All materials and training events will cover the problems encountered in cities with different levels of cycling from “starter” cities with very little cycling know-how and “climber” cities to “champion” cities which are already leading European cycling cities.
Partnership
The PRESTO consortium consists of European experts in cycling and urban transport and five cities: Bremen (Germany), Grenoble (France), Tczew (Poland), Venice (Italy) and Zagreb (Croatia). The European networks and experts coming together to advise the cities, to set up the training programme and to disseminate the project’s achievements are: the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF), the European Twowheel Retailers’ Association (ETRA), the European city network Polis, the German Cyclists’ Federation – Bremen Branch (ADFC-HB), Ligtermoet & Partners and the Pomeranian Association for Common Europe (PSWE). The PRESTO project is coordinated by Rupprecht Consult GmbH.
Bremen – GERMANY
Thomas Kirpal
Tel.: 0049 421 361 5402
Email: [email protected]Grenoble – FRANCE
Stéphane Gusmeroli
Tel: 0033 4 76 59 57 07
Email: [email protected]Tczew – POLAND
Małgorzata Ciecholinska
Tel.: 0048 501 155 253
Email: [email protected]Venice – ITALY
Stefania Camuffo
Tel: 0039 041 2747823
Email: [email protected]Zagreb – CROATIA
Željka Pavlović
Tel:
Email: [email protected]Rupprecht Consult GmbH - GERMANY
Rafael Urbanczyk
Tel.: 0049 221 60 60 55 16
Email: [email protected]
and
Michael Laubenheimer
Tel.: 0049 221 60 60 55 23
Email: [email protected]European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) - BELGIUM
Florinda Boschetti
Tel.: 0032 2 880 9274
Email: [email protected]European Twowheel Retailers’ Association (ETRA) - BELGIUM
Annick Roetynck
Tel.: 00 32 9 233 60 05
Email: [email protected]Polis - BELGIUM
Anna Clark
Tel: 0032 2 500 56 78
Email: [email protected]ADFC-Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad Club - GERMANY
Klaus-Peter Land
Tel: 0049 421-7901759
Email: [email protected]Ligtermoet & Partners - NETHERLAND
Dirk Dufour
Tel: 0031 16 24 22 70
Email: [email protected]Pomorskie Stowarzyszenie ul.
Wspolna Europa (PSWE) - POLAND
Andrzej B. Piotrowic
Tel.: 0048 58 30 30 100
Email: [email protected]
Local dissemination partner:
Udruga Bicikl – CROATIA
Damir Širola
Tel: 00385 14846748
Email: [email protected]
News archive
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Newsletter
#1/2009 October (pdf for download)