See the section for Europe of the Trento Bike Pages. See the original version from the pages of Ernst Poulsen

48 Bicycle Advocacy Groups
Around the World

For all those going abroad - or searching for advocacy-advice from other countries - here is a list of the 48 most important bicycle groups around the world. These groups specialize not only in bicycle advocacy but also in tourism, consumer issues, hpv-matters, etc. The list includes e-mail and homepage addresses where I have been able to find them - and a word of introduction (explanation) about the nature of these groups. (You may cut the gibberish.. - and click just below)


Intro.......... Europe(39).......... America(5).......... Asia(1).......... Australia(1).......... ECF/International(2)

Compiled by Ernst Poulsen
(Updated April 6th, 1996)

Word of Introduction to the worlds of bicycle racing - and bicycle advocacy

The world of bicycle organisations may be percieved of as a world split into two. There is the world of bicycle racing; the sports-world. Whether amateur or professional - the aim is "simple": to go fast, to endure, to excell. It is a world of great beauty and excitement. You will find a great number of organisations and individuals who provide you with information on addresses, rides and events. Hence - I will concentrate my efforts elsewhere.

The other world - the one I belong to is more mixed. One could claim, that it encompasses all the other possible uses - and loves for the bicycle. It is the world of "bicycle advocacy" (in the words broadest possible sence). It is in this world you will meet all the "activists" who work in their spare time just to promote the use of the bicycle.

This is often a political and technical world where the activists find themselves in battles against the seemingly ever growing use of automobiles - or indifference of city-planners and politicians. Seen from their bicycle saddle city-pollution just keeps increasing and at times one just gets the feeling that the bicycle is the eternal underdog. These activists are in my opinion the true heroes.

But this "advocacy" world has so many different sub-worlds, that you will always find something just for you. You will meet the bicycle-adventurers who rode and still ride the world (or their local county) - and who'd love to give you good advice for your next vacation.

You will find the HPV-"born-agains" who strive to make the bicycle much better than it presently is - and who also strive to convince you that you'r riding a thing from the previous century. (We need these people). You'll meet the "bicycle-archaeologists", who try to tell the HPV-people that it was all invented in 1912 (they are right), and well, you might even find a few groups or individuals who do some racing.

You will definately find people with very special passions - specifically and only for: bicycle map legends, small town charity rides, recreational route signposting standards, slick tyre mountain bikes, mud-absorbing lighting systems, OR foreign magazines in obscure languages with very low circulation. Did I remember to include the nerds who use their keyboard and Internet-account more than their bicycle?

You will find most of these hard-working (non-paid) people in the bicycle advocacy groups. These are the groups who you should contact first if you are going abroad.

But start with your local group which may be able to help you with touring-tips and maps from their sister-organisations. If they don't stock the maps or if they cannot provide you with that specific piece of information, you could contact the foreign group directly. These groups are also the ones to contact if you would like to know more about bicycle projects in that country.

Many of these organisations are members of the European Cyclist's Federation (*). If you are a member of one of the groups, they should all offer you their membership services (usually discounts on maps and books). Some groups are just affiliated (+). These groups will possibly - but not always offer you their memberships services if you are a member of another ECF-organisation.

But please remember one thing before writing your letter. All these organisations are membership funded and therefore appreciate if you use international postal coupons or pay something for the information or help they give to you.

Even better - JOIN your local bicycle federation. They do deserve your support.

Please (e)-mail me if you have knowledge of other groups than the ones I have included, or if you know that a specific group moved, changed its name or doesn't exits any more. I hope you can use the list.

As you may notice from the contents of this list - I am European. To compensate a little for this - and because the American groups vary more in structure and purpose - I have included a few lines about the individual groups in the US.

This file is "e-mail-ware". You may post this list or make links to it on your server/homepage freely. But send me a mail if you do. It keeps me happy while typing - and makes it possible for me to inform you of updates.
Tailwinds!

Ernst Poulsen
Dansk Cyklist Forbund


42 Bicycle Advocacy groups - listed by country

(Updated April 2nd 96)

All groups marked with (*) are members of the European Cyclist' Federation (ECF). Those which only are ECF-associated members are marked (+). At the end of the list you will find the addresses of the European Cyclists' Federation itself and of a few international groups.


EUROPE

Austria

Arbeitsgemeinschaft Umweltfreundlicher Stadtverkehr (ARGUS)(*) Frankenberggasse 11 A-1040 Wien Austria Phone: +43 1 50 50 907 Phone: +43 1 50 58 435 Fax: +43 1 50 50 90 719
e-mail: service@argus.or.at homepage: http://www.argus.or.at/argus
Verkehrs Club Oesterreich (VCOE) (+) Dingelstedtgasse 15 A-1150 Wien Austria Phone: +43 - 1 893 26970 Fax: +43 - 1 893 2431

Belgium

Fietsoverleg Vlaanderen (FOV) (*) Rijdende Artillerielaan 3 B-3000 Leuven Belgium Phone: +32 - 16 23 94 65 Fax: +32 - 16 29 02 10 Groupe de Recherche et d'Action des Cyclistes Quotidiens (GRACQ) (*) Rue Marcq 16 B-1000 Bruxelles Belgium Phone: +32 - 2 22 30 101 Fietsersbond vzw (*) Bacchuslaan 35 B-2600 Berchem-Antwerpen Belgium Phone: +32 - 3 23 60 989 Fax: +32 - 3 23 60 989 Transport & Environment (T & E) (+) Rue de Victoire 26 B-1060 Bruxelles Belgium Phone: +32 - 2 537 66 39 Fax: +32 - 2 637 73 94

Czech and Slovak Republics

Czech & Slovak Traffic Club (*) Jakubske Namensti 7 CS-60200 Brno Czech Republic Phone: +42 - 5 531 323 Fax: +42 - 5 422 10 347

Denmark

Dansk Cyklist Forbund (*) Roemersgade 7 DK-1362 Koebenhavn K Denmark Phone: +45 - 33 32 31 21 Fax: +45 - 33 32 76 83 e-mail: dcf@inet.uni-c.dk
e-mail: dcf@inet.uni-c.dk homepage: http://webhotel.uni-c.dk/dcf

Estonia

Vaenta Aga (*) Lunini Street 3 EE-2400 Tartu Estonian Republic Phone: +7 - 372 7 47 96 73 Phone: +7 - 372 43 52 55 Fax: +7 - 372 43 54 40

Finland/Soumi

Helsingin Polkupyorailijat (HePo) (*) Box 150 SF-00521 Helsinki Finland/Suomi Liikenneliito ry. (+) c/o The Finnish Association for Nature Conservancy PL 169 00151 Helsinki Finland Phone: +63 - 90 22 80 82 23 Fax: +63 - 90 22 80 82 00

France

Federation Francaise de Cyclotourisme 8 rue Jean-Marie-Jego F-75013 Paris France Phone: +33 - 1 44 16 88 88 Federation Francaise des Usagers de la Bicyclette (FUBicy) (*) 4, rue Brulee F-67000 Strasbourg France Phone: +33 - 88 75 17 50 Fax: +33 - 88 22 56 07 Mouvement de Defense de la Bicyclette (MDB) (*) 32, rue Raymond-Lasserand F-75014 Paris France Phone: +33 - 1 43 20 26 02 Fax: +33 - 1 42 36 19 38

Germany

Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad Club e. V. (*) Postfach 107747 D-28077 Bremen 1 Germany Phone: +49 - 421 346 290 Fax: +49 - 421 346 2950

Great Britain

Cycle Campaign Network (CCN) (*) 15, The Oval, Oldbrook GB-Milton Keynes MK6 2TW Great Britain Phone: +44 - 1 908 674812 Cyclists' Touring Club (CTC) (+) Cotterell House 69 Meadrow, Godalming GB-Surrey GU7 3HS Great Britain Phone: +44 - 14 83 41 7217 Fax: +44 - 14 83 42 6994 London Cycling Campaign (LCC) (*) Tress House 3 Stamford Str. GB-London SE1 9NT Great Britain Phone: +44 - 171 928 7220 Fax: +44 - 171 928 7736

Hungary

Friends of City Cycling Budapest (*) Miklos ter 1 H-1035 Budapest Hungary Phone: +36 - 1 25 00 424 Fax: +36 - 1 16 88 002 Hungarian Bicycle Tourist Organisation (*) Hold u. 1 H-1054 Budapest Hungary Phone: +36 - 1 153 4226 Phone: +36 - 1 217 7208 Fax: +36 - 1 153 2950

Ireland

Cyclefolk (*) Square Wheel Cycleworks 6 Temple Lane South Dublin 2 Republic of Ireland

Italy

Federazione Italiana Amici delle Bicicletta (FIAB) (*) c/o Bici e Dintorni Via Andorno 35/B I-10131 Torino Italy Phone: +39 - 11 888 981 Fax: +39 - 11 888 981

Luxembourg

Letzebuerger Velos Initiativ (LVI) (*) 6, Rue Vauban L-2663 Luxembourg Luxembourg Phone: +352 - 43 90 30 Fax: +352 - 42 22 42

Malta

Cycling Touring Club Malta (*) c/o Mr. Philip Agius PO Box 16 Msida MSD 01 Malta Fax: +356 - 23 82 26

Netherlands

Fietsersbond enfb (*) Postbus 2828 NL-3500 GV Utrecht Netherlands phone +31-30-291081 71 fax +31-30-29181 88 E-mail fbenfb@pz.nl http://www.pz.nl/fbenfb/

Norway

Syklistenes Landsforening (*) Postboks 8883 Youngstorget 0028 OSLO Storgt. 23c Norway Phone: +47 - 22 41 50 80 Fax: +47 - 22 41 65 65
e-mail: slf-bike@oslonett.no homepage: http://www.oslonett.no/home/slf-bike/

Poland

Polski Klub Ekologinzny (PKE) (+) Maloopolska Branch Al.Juliusza Slowackiego 48 III p PL-30-018 Krakow Poland Phone: +48 - 12 22 62 22 Fax: +48 - 12 22 36 12

Portugal

Federacao Portuguesa de Cicloturismo e Utilizadores de Bicicleta(FPCU) (*) Av. Miquel Bombarda 147-2. Dt. P-1000 Lisboa Portugal Phone: +351 - 1 31 56 086 Fax: +351 - 1 35 61 253

Russia

Cyclists' Touring Club "Orion" (*) Lenina Prospekt, 22-14 SU-400066 Volgograd Russia Phone: +7 - 8442 36 28 34

Spain

Coordinatora Catalana d'Usuaris de la Bicicleta (*) C/ Mare de Deu del Port 397-401, 17e 1c E-08038 Barcelona Spain Phone: +34 - 3 43 15 379 Fax: +34 - 3 43 15 379 A Contramono (*) Jerez de la Frontera 3 3'D E-41 920 San Juan e Aznalfarache (Sevilla) Spain Phone: +34 5 42 18 729 Fax: +34 5 42 18 729 Valencia en Bici (*) C/Portal de Valldigna 15 baix E-46003 Valencia Spain Phone: +34 - 6 39 17 864 Fax: +34 - 6 39 17 864 Coordinatora Catalana d'Usaris de la Bicicleta (*) c/ Amics C/Demost`nes, 19 E-08028 Barcelona Spain Phone: +34 3 453 9648 Fax: +34 3 453 9648 Valencia en Bici (*) C/Portal de Valldigna 15 Baix E-46003 Valencia Spain Phone: +34 96 391 7864 Fax: +34 96 391 7864 Pedalibre Club Cicloturista (*) Campomanes, 13 28013 Madrid Spain Phone: +34 - 1 265 15 61

Sweden

Cykelfraemjandet (*) Torsgatan 31 Box 6027 S-102 31 Stockholm Sweden Phone: +46 8 32 16 80 Fax: +46 8 31 05 03 Svenska Cykelsaellskabet (+) P.O. Box 6006 S-164 06 Kista Sweden Phone: +46 8 751 62 04 Fax: +46 8 751 19 35

Switzerland

IG Velo Schweiz (*) Postfach 6711 CH-3001 Bern Switzerland Phone: +41 - 31 371 1836 Fax: +41 31 372 42 37 Verkehrs Club der Schweiz, Ressort Velo (VCS) (+) Postfach 8562 CH-3001 Bern Switzerland Phone: +41 328 82 00 Fax: +41 328 82 01

AMERICA

Canada

Velo Quebec (+) 1251, Rachel Est. Montreal (Quebec) H2J 2J9 Canada Phone: +1 514 521 8356 Fax: +1 514 521 5711

USA

Bicycle Federation of America (BFA) (+) 1506 21st. Street N.W. #200 Washington, D.C. 20036 USA Phone: +1 202 463 6622 Fax: +1 202 463 6625
e-mail: bfa@igc.apc.org
e-mail: bikefed@aol.com

A very active advocacy group for bicycle interests, based in Washington. DC. Publishes a number of documents, maintains a map library, and organizes a biennial conference. Also offers introductory courses on safety and conducts teacher training programs. Awards grants for innovative bicycle-related projects. Call for the free action kit "One Less Car" which lists a ton of resources for bike advocates. The Missoula Montana office at +1 - 406 - 543 8113 publishes Bicycle Forum, a quarterly journal for planners, engineers, etc., to communicate and share trends in advocacy. Adventure Cycling (formerly Bikecentennial) PO Box 8308 Missoula, MT 59807 MT 59807-9988 USA Phone: +1 - 800 933 1116 Phone: +1 - 406 7211776

e-mail:gmacfadden@igc.apc.org

National membership organization specializing in touring and advocacy. Develops national bike routes, publishes maps. Adventure Cyclist a membership magazine, state-by-state Cyclists' Yellow Pages, a great trip-planning reference for extended bike trips, free catalog of books and Cyclo Source, a catalog of safety materials. League of American Bicyclists (LAB) (formerly League of American Wheelmen - LAW) 190 West Ostend Street, Ste.120 Baltimore, MD 21230 Phone: +1 410 539 3399

e-mail: bikeleague@aol.com

Non-profit membership organization of cyclists and advocates that offer tours, Effective Cycling clinics, and literature, sponsors Bike Month, and publishes Bicycle USA, a membership magazine, six times a year. Other publications include: How To Succeed at Bicycle Advocacy - How To Commute by Bicycle - Bicyclist Advocacy Bulletin, a magazine - Bicycle Advocate's Handbook ($14.95) - The Tourfinder, a guide to tour operators - annual Bicycle USA Almanac - National Bike Month Kit $10.75 includes shipping. Rails to Trails Conservancy 1400 Sixteenth Street NW #300 Washington D.C. 20036 Phone: +1 - 202 797 5400 Works to convert unused railways into bicycle and hiking trails. Converting Rails to trails $19.95 - Organizing Citizen Support and Acquiring Funds for Bicycle and Pedestrian Trails $19.95. League members can fly their bikes for free on TWA, America West, USAir, Continental, and Northwest airlines when they make their travel arrangements through the Sports National Reservation Center.


ASIA

Japan

Japan Cycling Association (+) 9-3 Akasaka 1-chrome Minato-KU Tokyo 107 Japan Phone: +81 - 3 35 83 56 28 Fax: +81 - 3 35 83 59 87

AUSTRALIA

Bicycle Federation of Australia (BFA) (umbrella organisation for individual state groups) GPO Box 272 Sydney NSW 2000 Phone: +61 - 2 419 5419 Fax: +61 - 2 415 1913
e-mail: bicycle@ozemail.com.au
homepage: http://www.ozemail.com.au

INTERNATIONAL / ECF

Some groups - or umbrella-organisations work on the international level. Probably the strongest of these is the European Cyclists Federation. There is also a christian group - but the group of Esperanto speaking cyclists has disappeared.

The European Cyclists' Federation

The European Cyclists' Federation is an umbrella organisation for most of the European Cyclists Federations.

Cyclists often meet problems when trying to cross borders by train, on long-distance bicycle routes or by plane. But the aim is also to get the European Union to realize that supporting expensive infrastructure projects like highways and satellite navigation in automobiles may not be the only - or right - way towards a better future.

Among the major projects of the ECF is the (bi)annual Velo-City [R] Conference (Nottingham in 1993, Basel in 1995 and Perth, Australia in 1996). Also the Cities for Cyclists-project which tries to spread information on cycle-friendly planning is a project of the European Cyclists Federation.

Presently Mr. Thomas Krag who is also managing director of the Danish Cyclist Federation is president of the European Cyclist Federation. You may contact the ECF at: European Cyclists' Federation 4 rue Brulee F-67000 Strasbourg France Phone: +33 - 88 75 17 50 Fax: +33 - 88 22 56 07 Cities for Cyclist - project c/o ADFC Postfach 10 77 47 D-28077 Bremen Germany Phone: +49 - 421 34 62 90 Fax: +49 - 421 34 62 950 VeloCity (R) - Bicycle Conference 31 Arodene Road London SW2 2BQ England Phone: +44 - 181 67 45 916 Fax: +44 - 181 67 13 386 ECF policy office c/o Dansk Cyklist Forbund Roemersgade 7 DK-1362 Copenhagen K Denmark Phone: +45 - 33 32 31 21 Fax: +45 - 33 32 76 83 e-mail: dcf@inet.uni-c.dk http://webhotel.uni-c.dk/dcf ECF Coordination (ECF-mailing) c/o ENFB Postbus 2150 NL-3440 DD Woerden Netherlands Phone: +31 - 34 84 23 119 Fax: +31 - 34 84 17 058

International Christian Cycling Club - Europe (ICCC)

Schwalbenweg 3 D-91096 Mohrendorf Deutschland Phone +49 - 9131 44 00 27 BEMI - esperanto speaking cyclists According to the previous leader of BEMI, Jens S. Larsen from Denmark, this group of Esperanto speaking cyclists does not exist anymore.

If you know of groups not listed here - please send me an e-mail.

ernst@inet.uni-c.dk
Click the address to send me an e-mail.

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Ernst Poulsens homepage


Sorry - about the typing mistakes
As the world of computers still only know of American/English keyboards I have chosen to change the many special letters of the world into the more simple characters found in the ASCII-table - only in order to get something fairly legible across to your screen. Sorry. ( , , , , , , , , , , ,