Sub-plenary Sessions

Environment

Matthias Zimmermann, T&E (European Federation for Transport & Environment) and VCS Switzerland How To Foster The Links Between Transport, Human Nature And Sustainable Development The new movement for the environment in Europe is now thirty years old, the transport-and-environment movement 20 years, "sustainability" as definition of the only way to human survival on earth 15 (Brundtland report), our European umbrella T&E 10: And still many people have not yet understood the unique importance of one very specific and most important technical tool for survival: The bike! The bike has a very unique character much more unique as many other technical inventions: It solves the main dilemmas of human nature and sustainable development. That will say: It is getting TRANSPORT closer to the requirements of sustainability and getting PEOPLE closer to the requirements of sustainability. Because it is taking in account the human nature - as well. So it fosters the links between transport, human nature and sustainable development. The dilemma of sustainable development is the fact that it should be environmentally sound AND socially equitable AND economically viable. Let’s have a closer look at the three corners of this triangle from the bike’s point of view.