Brussels, 08/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - Invited to the “Velo City conference in Dublin, Jacques Barrot, vice president of the Transport Committee, made a speech on 3 June on how the Commission could “play a role in promoting bicycle use in Europe” at the very moment it begins its mid term review on transport. The objective is to rebalance modes of transport so that they cause less congestion and pollution. He underlined that, “there is an enormous potential for bicycle riding…but we have to ensure that the bicycle is safe and attractive in terms of infrastructure and services so that this potential can be fully exploited, especially in the cities. To promote the bicycle CIVITAS initiative (EUR100 million have been allocated to cities to try out integrated action). The Commission is proposing improved road safety (directive on blind spots, frontal protection systems and co-funding education programme for young cyclists, such as “Rose 25”) and the exchange of good practices via the local ELTIS and BYPAD European transport information services. It is also diffusing its “Riding bicycles: the way forward for cities” brochure and wants to provide an example by providing bicycles to its own staff. (WWW.velo-city2005 and http://www.civitas-initiative.org ).