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14 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 2 FEBRUARY 2022 EUROPE These articles are part of a content series called Ewropej. This is a multi-newsroom initiative part-funded by the European Parliament to bring the work of the EP closer to the citizens of Malta and keep them informed about matters that affect their daily lives. These articles reflect only the authors' view. The European Parliament is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains. THE European Parliament has become the first European institution to be cer- tified, receiving a Bronze Level Certi- fication. The Cycle-Friendly Employer Certification Framework establishes a European standard for bicycle friendli- ness in the workplace. In December 2021, ECF Member Fiet- sersbond Belgium awarded the Europe- an Parliament the title of Cycle-Friendly Employer (CFE) for its Brussels site. With a wide range of cycling services and a con- sistent cycling policy, the European Par- liament sufficiently encourages cycling amongst its employees to be awarded a Bronze Level certificate. The Parliament is the first European institution to be- come a CFE, a significant achievement and a testament to its commitment to en- suring more cycling in Europe. "Fietsersbond is proud to certify the Eu- ropean Parliament in Brussels as the first Cycle-Friendly European institution," said a spokesperson for Fietsersbond Bel- gium. "It is good to see that Europe's sus- tainability ambitions are being translated into concrete results and that the Euro- pean Parliament is taking a leading role." Provision of service bikes for employees As cycling is the fastest and most con- venient mode of transport to move from the Parliament's building to the other European institutions, the European Par- liament has considerably increased the number of service bicycles available for its employees to about 50 modern bikes for service trips, including 35 e-bikes. Free bicycle maintenance With free bicycle maintenance being provided by Parliament, service bicycles are checked monthly and repaired with- in one day in case of damage. Moreover, employees have the possibility to bor- row the bikes to cycle home after work, hence contributing to the increase in the number of journeys made using the ser- vice bikes every year from 700 journeys in 2012 to 3,800 in 2019. State-of-the-art bicycle parking As for cycling infrastructures, in 2021 the European Parliament installed bicycle parking equipped with several facilities, including more than 100 staple-shaped bicycle racks, ventilated lockers, chang- ing rooms, showers, charging stations for e-bikes, a compressor, a repair col- umn and places for cargo bikes. "Not all buildings are equipped to this level yet, but it is our ambition to offer the same level of comfort to all cyclists and visitors who want to come by bike in the future," said Mobility Coordinator Blaise Vanop- denbosch. "We already have covered and secured bicycle-parking facilities in our buildings. In 2022, we plan to equip a new floor for visitors coming by bike." Holding and participating in cycling events To promote and expand the use of bi- cycles to work, every May the Europe- an Parliament organises "Velomai" – a cycling event with lectures, workshops, bicycle tours and trainings. Moreover, the Parliament demonstrates its commit- ment to ensuring more cycling employees by participating in the "Velomai Cycling Challenge" – the European Commision's cross-institutional cycling competition – and by holding cycling campaigns during Mobility Week. The European Parliament's employees: 17% cycle to work The results of the most recent Europe- an Parliament mobility survey show that 17% of employees cycle. "The European Parliament's cycling pol- icy results in a relatively high percentage of employees cycling to work: 17% com- pared to an average of 4.4% for Brussels," explained Vanopdenbosch. "We have the ambition to reach 19% of cyclists by 2023." Cycling services for the staff The European Parliament collaborates with the EU Cycling Group, a Europe- an Institutions' cycling association that collects initiatives from the staff to en- courage cycling. A Mobility Point – an information desk for mobility in the main building – also provides to staff members information about mobility and sustaina- ble transport. Leading by example: European Parliament earns cycle-friendly employer certification