Eurobike, Summary

The bicycle has arrived on the political stage: full speed ahead for bikes. The visit by the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Eurobike in Friedrichshafen definitely got mobility on two wheels off and running. "For the international bike world and for the Eurobike, the fact that Mrs. Dr. Angela Merkel came to Friedrichshafen was a strong political signal,” Messe Friedrichshafen CEO Klaus Wellmann said at the end of the show, looking back at the ‘big bike summit’. Head of the Eurobike Stefan Reisinger observed that "the Chancellor’s presence was noted with great pleasure by everyone involved.” This was reflected by heavy attendance at the international bike trade show, which came to an end on Saturday after four successful days. With 45,200 trade visitors from 111 countries (2012: 43,700) as well as 20,400 bike fans on public day and 1,883 media representatives from 45 countries, the bike event at Lake Constance achieved a "very good result.”


A total of 1,280 exhibitors from 54 countries presented an impressive international selection in 14 exhibition halls, accompanied by just about 300 world premieres. Visitors journeyed from all across the world to Friedrichshafen, resulting in an international participation rate of 56 percent. All in all, visitors came from 111 countries this year (2012: 97 countries).


Mobility on two wheels was on display in all its diversity. On Saturday, trade visitors, journalists and consumers tried out the newest models with and without electric drive. Cargo bikes are trending strongly. Folding bikes are promoting mobility; their owners always have their equipment with them, ready and set to go. The political message was clear, and not just for the German Chancellor: Biking gets everyone in a good mood and simply has a future.

Dates for the Eurobike 2014
The dates for the Eurobike 2014 have been set: The international cycling trade show will take place from Wednesday, August 27 to Saturday, August 30, 2014. Demo Day will be held on Tuesday, August 26 and public day will be Saturday, August 30, 2014.

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel Opens Eurobike

Friedrichshafen - "In no other invention is utility so inherently combined with a pleasurable experience as on a bicycle,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, quoting Opel founder Adam Opel when she opened Eurobike on Wednesday, 28 September 2013. While she has had less opportunity to adhere to this principle since being invested with Germany’s highest political office, she has ridden a bicycle since she was a little girl. "Eurobike is equally as important as Cebit and the International Motor Show. A comprehensive appraisal of transport in our times necessarily includes the bicycle. Germany is not just a car nation, it is also a bike nation,” the premier stressed.

On the opening day of Eurobike - the leading international trade fair for bicycles and cycling - the key players in the bike industry presented the trends and new products for next season and the German Chancellor revealed that the cycling trend had made its mark on public policy: "With the cycle traffic plan 2020, we are committing the German Government to promoting cycling. We aim to create the conditions that will encourage those who have perhaps thought about cycling to take it up.” The Chancellor particularly thought that the boom in e-bikes could be an attractive prospect for older generations, enabling them to enjoy cycling on any terrain. A combination of different modes of transport was an important approach to persuading as many people as possible to take up cycling, Angela Merkel said.

Andreas Brand, Mayor of Friedrichshafen and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Messe Friedrichshafen, the exhibition organizer, also supported the integration of the various means of transport: "People-friendly mobility is not a one-way street, but an intelligently managed interchange.” He saw the German Chancellor’s visit to the most important bike show in the world as a clear signal of the recognition of the cycle industry. He also emphasized the importance of mobility for the City of Friedrichshafen and the exhibition organizer, Messe Friedrichshafen: "Mobility has its roots, its base, a future and now a home here in Friedrichshafen - that is why Eurobike belongs here.” Angela Merkel was also impressed by the trade fair location on Lake Constance, saying: "Friedrichshafen is the byword for attractive forms of mobility.”

At the opening ceremony, Bernhard Lange, President of the German Bicycle Industry Association, said: "Cycling has become a megatrend, with everyone meeting in Friedrichshafen at the leading cycle trade fair, Eurobike - the global showcase of the cycle industry and mobility worldwide.” He noted that cycling had arrived in the political world and had become a securely anchored part of mobility, and added: "While the use of the bicycle for leisure and sport purposes achieves general health benefits, the bike is of huge importance as an environmentally friendly means of transport in a future-capable, sustainable mobility concept."

Eurobike is open daily from 8.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. on the trade-visitor days - Wednesday, 28 August to Friday, 30 August - and is open to the public from 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. on Saturday, 31 August.

Further information is available online at: www.eurobike-show.com.

Photos, copyright: EUROBIKE Friedrichshafen

Follow on Twitter: ITALIANCYCJOURN or receive an email when new content is added using the "Follow by Email" button on the right side column. With more than 3,000 stories in this blog the custom search feature (right column) works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button underneath the search button.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.