The Netherlands to Offer Advice to Slovakia on Bicycle Transport
Bratislava, July 4 (TASR) – The Netherlands wants to help Slovakia with the development of bicycle transport and thus Dutch Ambassador to Slovakia Richard van Rijssen offered Dutch know-how to Minister of Transport, Construction and Regional Development Roman Brecely (Network nominee) at their meeting Monday.
“We’re certainly interested in utilising the experience of the Netherlands not only as a country passing on to us the Presidency of the Council of the EU, but also as a state that has managed to integrate bicycle transport into everyday lives of people and cities extremely well,” said Brecely.
The Netherlands represents a bicycle superpower, with more bicycles in the country than people. In some cities, up to 70 percent of passenger transport occurs on bicycles.
Key in the development of this ecologically-friendly form of transportation is to involve also lower-level municipalities that need to actively support the concept besides Government ministries and institutions, said van Rijssen.
“We’re prepared to aid Slovakia with the development of this agenda at any time and share with all of you our experiences from this past six months and beyond,” he claimed.
Together with the Transport Minister, the ambassador also broached further items of importance during the previous Dutch Council of the EU Presidency, such as the open European skies and the development of water transport.
