Collection of Cycle Concepts 2012.pdf - Fietsberaad

COLLABORATIONS AND NETWORKS
• Establish concrete objectives.
• Mobilize citizen support for new cycling
initiatives.
• Cycling related classes for the young and the
elderly.
• Cycling initiatives as municipal promotion.
• Collaboration with citizen groups and/or other
local institutions.
• Lobby officials and politicians to promote new
cycling initiatives.
• Cross-administrative collaboration, e.g.
between the health, environmental and traffic
administrations.
• Promote new cycling initiatives to citizens and
in the media.
• Promote new cycling initiatives to the Ministry
of Transport or Members of Parliament.
• Provide cycling inspiration from Denmark and
the rest of the world.
• Share knowledge of what other local
authorities have done to promote cycling.
Collaboration between the local authorities
and the Danish Cyclists’ Federation is most
successful if project expectations are in sync
from the start. The local branches are made up
of volunteers fueled by a high level of personal
engagement, which can prove invaluable to the
community. However, it may not be possible for
the local authority to invest what the volunteers
consider the optimal amount of resources in a
given project; it is crucial to adjust expectations
and roles from the outset so the local branch
volunteers can fulfill their role as constructive
partners.
Meetings held early on in the process can clarify
whether the authority and the local branch of the
Danish Cyclists’ Federation can make common
cause. They will often share common interests,
and the Danish Cyclists’ Federation can be a
powerful factor in creating credibility and popular
support, both politically and when it comes to
selling the idea to the local media.
Making sure that press statements and releases
correspond is crucial to the collaboration.
Situations can easily arise where the parties have
different attitudes and points of view. Indeed,
voicing different views is part of the cooperative
relationship, but confidence is best served if the
parties keep each other informed in advance so
new statements do not come as a surprise.
“We’re just doing what you do in Copenhagen”, said Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City,
when presented with a prize from the Cycling Embassy of Denmark. Inspired by Copenhagen, New
York has started establishing bike paths in many parts of the city.
CYCLING EMBASSY OF
DENMARK
The Cycling Embassy of Denmark is a network
of different players in the field of cycling. No
tradition of close collaboration formerly existed
between private companies, local authorities
and other organizations, but it makes sense to
consolidate resources when the playing field is so
small compared to the rest of the world.
It is the cycling embassy’s vision that Denmark
shall be the world’s leading cycling country and
the primary source when it comes to knowledge,
dialogue and innovation in the field of cycling.
The organization wishes to encourage cycling all
over the world and its members work together
to develop and promote Denmark as a cycling
country through exchange of ideas, development
and communication of bicycle culture in
Denmark.
In concrete terms the Cycling Embassy
contributes to:
• Joint promotion of Denmark as a cycling
country at conferences.
• Making Danish cycling knowledge available to
non-Danes.
• Joint knowledge gathering and preparation of
publications related to cycling knowledge in
several languages.
• Supporting events at Danish embassies and
other Danish agencies abroad.
• Knowledge sharing and exchange of ideas.
• Arranging master classes, excursions and
courses.
• Professional handling of visiting delegations.
• Ensuring a platform for network formation.
In addition to the local branches located all over
the country, the Danish Cyclists’ Federation
secretariat in Copenhagen is available for advice,
guidance and to test ideas.
The name alone – Cycling Embassy of Denmark – attracts international attention.
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