Cooperation between NGOs and municipalities Hungarian Cyclists’ Club (HCC)‏ www.kerekparosklub.hu Virág Bencze-Kovács, MSc.

1. 1

2. Our main question is: How could and how should a civil
organisation actively participate in the process of creating a
cycle-friendly city? We can see that in the case of a “climber”
country, this factor is indispensable.
Situation analysis
In countries like Hungary, a relatively low level of car
ownership and high but decreasing share of public transport
are common phenomena in “climber” countries. However,
cycling is two-faced with a striking contrast between cities
and the countryside.
If some tasks – such as promotion of cycling or
maintainance, or even route planning - are not fulfilled
properly by the public sector, these tasks are done or
motivated by civil organisations.
2

3. CM
The HCC is an NGO originating from the Critical Mass
movement.
The highest number of participant in the CM demonstration
was in 2008, eighty thousand of cyclist all around the cities.
Though the number of people using bicycle as a means of
transport grows rapidly in Hungary, decision makers,
designers and representatives of transport policy usually
ignore this fact. That’s why the professional work of civil
organizations has a great importance: support and promotion
of cycling can only be integrated into the objectives of
municipality leaders based on a bottom-up civil initiative.
The increased number of bikers is caused by CM, by the bike
to work campaign and awareness raising.
--> In the last few years cycling in Budapest became a
common phenomenon
3

4. The HCC is an NGO originating from the Critical Mass movement.
The highest number of participant in the CM demonstration was in
2008, eighty thousand of cyclist all around the cities.
Though the number of people using bicycle as a means of
transport grows rapidly in Hungary, decision makers, designers
and representatives of transport policy usually ignore this fact.
That’s why the professional work of civil organizations has a great
importance: support and promotion of cycling can only be
integrated into the objectives of municipality leaders based on a
bottom-up civil initiative.
The increased number of bikers is caused by CM, by the bike to
work campaign and awareness raising.
In the last few years cycling in Budapest became a
common phenomenon
4

5. Since 2004, membership of HCC has increased to 1000 people all over the
country, and besides the civil advocacy towards our professional work is
strengthened since then.
The strength of the Hungarian Cyclists’ Club is that we help for the
municipalities with the joint work of the technical working groups and local
groups. In our professional teams transport, communication and marketing
professionals are involved. We have local groups in 10 cities all over
Hungary, where the volunteers express the local needs and experiences.
-->We have a regional and professional network for effective advocacy.
5

6. Our partners: Municipalities, Engineering Companies,
Manufacturers, Politicians, Governmental apparatus
• We are lobbying by local governments
• We present a new approach for traffic design firms
• We make suggestions for bicycle-rack manufacturers.
• We influence political decisions,
• and we pressure on public bodies to develope the cycling
network and legal background.
--> The value of our role is that we are independent. We bring
knowledge and interested parties together.
6

7. What can be done to involve and motivate municipalities?
• Organising Workshops in the City Hall - professional days
--> We show the features of a bike-friendly city, we emphasize the benefits, we talk
about the promotional opportunities, we draw up the first and cheapest steps to do -
the local groups make local demands and suggestions.
(This is usually a high-spirited conversation, in the emerging debate the views of the
negotiating parties come closer to one another,, and they even recognize those
opportunities and problems that may not have been previously considered.)
• Making formal and informal contact with designers, giving consultation in the
planning of bicycle infrastructure.
--> We help the designer to implement appropriate solutions for the bikers.
• Consultating about planting bike parking facilities
--> We have a complete service pack for the design and implementation of bike
parking in a lot for public places. (We are connected with the authorities and the
manufacturers as well, to speed up the process.)
• Supporting statement and expertise for state/EU granted bike projects
--> We control quality and necessity of the bike routes.
• Providing designers, decision makers and stakeholders with posters,
leaflets and technical articles
--> We publish and spread the latest technical recommendations and guidelines.
--> Our idea is to form long-term agreements with municipalities.
7

8. 8

9. I show the results of our work in the last two years.
• We have played a significant role in the
changing process of road code.
• We have participated in the committee working
on the new Cycling Design Standard.
• We help the private and public sector as well to
plant more and more bike parking place.
• We have cooperated in forming the Cycling
Concept of Budapest, we have formed a bicycle
working group in the city hall, that works at
least on monthly basis. Thus, we can control the
developments. The success of our lobby is the
new type of cycling facilitis in Bp.: new
bikelanes, one-way streets, bus-bike lanes,
advanced stop lane)
9

10. Our good examples in other cities are the following:
• We have prepared the Cycling Concept for Érd, and the vice mayor asks for
our opinion on the development projects regularly.
1. In Miskolc, we lead a Bike-friendly Workshop, and we were also
involved in the consultation of bike network planning.
2. In January 2010, Győr accepted the City's Cycling Programme
prepared in cooperation with HCC and the municipality.
3. In Szeged and Debrecen, the local groups are involved in the bike
affairs by the city.
4. We have prepared Bike Parking Map for 5 different districts in
Budapest. The bike stands are under construction…likely, hopefully.
Thus, we can truly cooperate in a useful and integrated way with municipalities
which are open to our efforts. The decision makers of the municipalities are often
not aware of good examples, they are not familiar with the literature on bicycle
safety and design, promotion methods. For the first sight it seems to be difficult to
accept that these good practices can be used in Hungary as well.
But after a longer cooperation it becomes easier.
The role of HCC in Hungary can also be a good example for organizations
in other “climber” countries.
10

11. 11

12. 12

13. 13

14. 14

15. 15