Uber’s Pledge to the EU’s Cycling Vision

Advancing Safer, Greener Cities in line with the EU’s New Cycling Declaration

The European Commission’s new Declaration on Cycling has sparked a renewed focus on the benefits cycling brings to our cities and societies and sets the framework for a more sustainable, bike-friendly future.

To get more people on bikes, we need a diverse coalition of players, including government, NGOs, and private companies alike. At Uber, we’re not just supporters – we’re proactive participants in driving this change.

Creating safer streets in line with Vision Zero
The Declaration is clear: safer streets are critical for boosting cycling and achieving zero fatalities, in line with Vision Zero. 

As a service that moves tens of millions of people every year, we understand the difference safer infrastructure, lower speeds, and improved technology can make on our roadways. That’s why we are championing better infrastructure, focusing on vulnerable road users, and developing technology for road safety. 

Protected bike lanes reduce injury rates by a staggering 75% at intersections. Wider bike lanes can accommodate an array of electric vehicles like cargo bikes and child carriers, simplifying both commutes and deliveries. And let’s not overlook the growing need for on-street charging stations.

Advancing Vision Zero means taking a comprehensive and systematic approach to roadway safety. This starts with embracing the Safe System approach, a human-centered and holistic view of road safety that focuses on safer roadways, speeds, vehicles, and people. In partnership with the Vision Zero Network, Uber is already integrating Safe System principles into our product road map. For instance, we launched Speed Limit Alerts to address safe speeds and crash detection to help improve post-crash care, both key components of Safe System. 

Tech and education for safer cycling
In 2017, we made a commitment to stand for safety and embed safety into everything we do.  Our app is designed with safety in mind. We develop features to minimize distraction, prioritize safe navigation, and avoid other road safety risks. We have developed and launched many bicycle-specific safety features, such as:

Educating riders, drivers, and couriers about bicycle safety: All couriers receive education on biking safety and following the rules of the road. But our educational initiatives aren’t restricted to couriers. We educate all road users – drivers, riders, and couriers – about bike safety. This includes teaching riders about the “Dutch Reach” technique to prevent ‘dooring’ incidents and providing ongoing in-app road safety education. In some cities, we’ve gone a step further by hosting in-person road safety workshops, in association with local cycling groups and road prevention services.

Boosting e-bike adoption and supporting charging infrastructure
Cycling is critical to reaching the EU’s climate neutrality targets by 2050, and at Uber, we’ve committed to being a zero emission platform by 2030 in Europe. Bicycles are central to this mission. Research indicates that a multimodal approach combining electrification and active transportation modes is crucial for meeting climate goals.

In particular, the Declaration recognizes that “cycling is playing an increasingly important role in the urban transport of goods.” In the EU, the majority of Uber Eats deliveries are completed on two-wheels, and we’re working to improve access to high-quality zero- emission vehicles for couriers. In the last year, we have doubled down on our partnerships with with e-partners in EU such as Velair, Teebike, Cycle.eco (GetHenry), Keego & Zoomo In addition, we are working with global experts at RMI to support research on the challenges and opportunities couriers face in transitioning to zero emission modes including bicycles and ebikes. Uber Eats recently became a member of Cycling Industries Europe, the voice of the cycling business, and we are working together to better identify the challenges couriers face in their transition to e-bikes and solutions to provide them with more affordable and safer vehicles.

We’re proud of Uber’s contribution to road safety and sustainability, but we recognise that tech interventions and education alone won’t solve safety and sustainability challenges. Physical infrastructure improvements, like expanded bike lanes and e-bike charging stations, are critical steps in this journey. Through cooperation and smart integration of technology, we’re committed to helping transform our shared urban spaces into safer, more sustainable environments for everyone.