Rotterdam has received the highest rating for the new label TOUR DE FRANCE CYCLE CITY. Together with Paris, the city received the most bikes of the eighty participating cities. Thanks to its network of wide, safe and uninterrupted bike lanes, the port city, home of the 2010 Tour de France Grand, makes daily commuting by bike a breeze. 38% use the bicycle in the city centre. In recent years, Rotterdam has continuously improved the safety of several intersectionsand prioritised cycling by constructing bicycle-friendly streets. In addition, the bicycle parking facility integrated into the central station is a landmark of intermodal design. Rotterdam also distinguishes itself by making cycling more accessible to low-income residents and the ‘Cycling City’ welcomes national and international sporting events centred around cycling.
Christian Prudhomme, Director of the Tour de France: “Strengthening the connection between the bikes of champions and the bikes we use in our daily lives is of paramount importance. The Tour de France wants to do its part to promote cycling around the world. Symbolically, the stars of the peloton ride alongside the students and commuters who use their bikes for daily commuting.”
