About PRESTO

PRESTO - 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 aimed to 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 – provided an ideal arena to address the undeveloped potentials of cycling.

PRESTO activities in these cities focused on improved infrastructure planning and targeted promotion to encourage the use of bicycles (including pedelecs). Pedelecs are electrically assisted pedal bicycles on which one has to pedal to get moving. Pedelecs differ from e-bikes which have a motor which can function independently of whether one pedals or not.

PRESTO worked along 3 thematic pillars

• Infrastructure planning: well-planned infrastructure is key in increasing cycling uptake. PRESTO gave 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 encouraged people to get on their bikes, and they began to appreciate the possibilities and opportunities available for cyclists. In this way, people 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 enlarged the audience for the uptake of cycling.

PRESTO was 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 o ffer for urban cycling. PRESTO organised 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 Guide and a number of Fact Sheets on pedelecs will be available on the PRESTO website. In addition, PRESTO offered an e-learning course on pedelecs.