Statement IVAM, Amsterdam; Jeroen Terwoert, coordinator VECTOR-project.

"Today we would like to tell you something about a very special project: ‘VECTOR’. It is a project in which four national associations of cycling-advocates – from Hungary, Lithuania, Germany and the Netherlands – cooperate with two scientific institutes: IVAM from Amsterdam and Kooperationsstelle from Hamburg. They are supported by the European Commission.

The issue that they would like to draw your attention to is the problem of air pollution in European cities, caused by the ever-growing intensity of motorised traffic. Especially the fine and ultrafine particles that are emitted by cars, trucks, buses, motorbikes and mopeds harm the health of European citizens. European statistics have shown that each year, over 300.000 European citizens die prematurely as a result of inhaling fine particles (Source: European Commission; CAFE – Clean Air For Europe; supporting documents.)

The VECTOR partners would also like to draw your attention to a solution that may help European cities reduce the problem of traffic-related air pollution: promoting the bicycle as a clean and efficient means of transportation in busy cities. The bicycle does not pollute, is relatively cheap, and even relatively fast in busy city centres. Besides, cycling is healthy.

However, bicyclists are threatened by traffic exhaust too, as they often have to cycle through heavy traffic. But until recently, nobody really knew how bad it was. EU member states do not measure the actual exposure of cyclists. They only measure particles at fixed locations in cities. Moreover, they only measure daily or even annual averages.

The VECTOR project makes a step forward. We measure the exposure of cyclists to ultrafine particles continuously and in real life: while the cyclist is moving through a busy city. We record high peak exposures, as the cyclist passes for example a crossing, or when he is passed by, by a dirty old truck. And most new about the project: we use video recordings in addition, and special equipment that makes the exposure to particles visible. The special software we use is called PIMEX: Picture Mixed Exposure measurements.

We will prepare instructive ‘PIMEX’ films, showing ‘good’ and ‘bad’ situations in four European cities: Budapest, Hamburg, Utrecht and Vilnius. They will show which situations cause high exposures to particles, and which situations are more favourable. This will help European citizens (cyclists) that would like to protect their health, and it will help local authorities in European cities, to improve the situation in their cities:

• cyclists will see which kind of route to take, in order to minimise their exposure;
• local authorities will see what they can do to improve the situation for cyclists.

This may involve the design of dedicated cycling areas, directing cyclists to less busy routes, establishing ‘environmental zones’ in city centres, preparing separated cycling lanes etc. etc.

The VECTOR partners hope the project will inspire European citizens and local authorities to take action, and to start improving the health situation for cyclists… including many children!"