Eustaff-brevet från EU-parlamentets Michael Cramer som svettiga cyklister ska vidarebefordra till tyska transportministern lyder så här:
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Dear minister of transport,
Dear Mr. Stolpe,
I am happy that this letter could be transported to you completely by Human Power. It has made a long journey since it was fetched early on Friday here in Strasbourg.
The original start of the relay was in Biel/Bienne in Switzerland. The so-called EUSTAFF (EUropaSTAFFel, meaning European relay (race)) has this year been organized for the fifth time now by the German Human Powered Vehicles Association HPV and was organized together with other European Human Powered Vehicles Associations, supported by the ECF (European Cyclists’ Federation) and the ADFC (German Association of everyday-bikers).
During the following stages, which were driven day and night and independent of weather conditions, it has been transported down the Rhine valley, circumvented the Ruhr in the North-West, crossed the Northern part of Germany and finally, after a last night ride through East Germany, arrived in Berlin. Another route, coming from Göteborg in Sweden via Copenhagen, met the main route in Uelzen, south of Hamburg.
All envolved teams of drivers want to achieve, by means of this letter, that: -Cyclists in Germany are granted more rights and security in road traffic. For example, the obligation to use cycle tracks should be replaced by a right to use them, so that cyclists don't have to use dangerous tracks anymore, -A separated transport infrastructure is created, -Quality criteria for long-distance cycle tracks can be suable, -Any infrastructure of long-distance cycle trancks to be created can still be used at speeds exceeding 50 km/h = 30 mph, speeds easily achievable by Velomobiles in lowlands, -Cyclists are given more and better possibilities to carry their vehicles along in public and border-crossings means of transportation, including high-speed trains, -The safety of bicycles in general is increased by means of appropriate measures, e.g. by defining standards for the quality of lights and brakes and by verifying these, -The development of new kinds of vehicles, like Velomobiles (fast, fully faired Human Powered Vehicles) and recumbents, is promoted, -Human Powered Mobility as a whole is rated higher in our society.
For this, there are many reasons: -The attractiveness of bicycling has to be increased for reasons connected to environmental and health policy, -A higher share of bicycling in transport relieves the streets and thus helps to prevent, especially in cities, the construction of new means of infrastructure, -In urban areas, less motorized traffic equals to more quality of life, -Less importation of oil mean more wealth for our country and more health for its citizen.
All participating cyclists are happy that this letter reached you in good shape. I want to thank you that you took the time and gave yourself the trouble of receiving this letter.
Yours truly,
Michael Cramer, Member of the European Parliament
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olaf