----- Original Message -----
From: Helmut Weixler <hweixler@...>
Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2003 11:27 AM
Subject: Press Release: MEPs set for bike ride to Strasbourg


THE GREENS/EFA IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
PRESS RELEASE - Brussels, 26 August 2003

PRESS CONFERENCE:
MEPs set for bike ride to Strasbourg

Following the lead of Green MEPs Jan Dhaene, Claude Turmes and Theo Bouwman
a cross-party group of MEPs will set off on a bike-trip to Strasbourg
tomorrow to attend the European Parliament's September plenary session and
demonstrate their support for sustainable transport. The group of 12 MEPs -
accompanied by many cycling amateurs and enthusiasts alike - will depart
from the main entrance of the Parliament on Wednesday 27 August at 12.30pm.
The group is expected to complete the 480km trip and arrive in Strasbourg on
the afternoon of Monday 1 September.

You are subsequently invited to a press conference where the Green deputies
will outline their reasons for organising this trip.

Wednesday 27 September, 11.00am

Briefing room PHS 0 A 50
Press Centre
European Parliament, Brussels

Jan Dhaene (Agalev, Belgium) said of the trip: "Despite the EU supporting a
number of projects that encourage bicycle use, we want to show extra support
for cycling in Europe. Therefore we decided to create a cycling group within
the European Parliament that would, on one hand, stimulate interest in
cycling as a sport, while on the other hand promote it as a mode of
transport."

Claude Turmes (Déi Gréng - Luxembourg) added: "We hope to increase public
awareness around transport choices while promoting cycling as an
environmentally friendly, healthy and sustainable choice of transport - and
one that is also of great benefit to tourism."

Theo Bouwman (GroenLinks - The Netherlands) concluded: "Sustainable
transport is one of the keys to a sustainable energy system. Good cycling
policies can help us to achieve the goals set out in the Kyoto Protocol."

Participants in the bike trip include MEPs Jan Dhaene, Claude Turmes, Freddy
Blak, Herman Vermeer, Jo Leinen, Theo Bouwman, Helmut Markov, Pierre
Jonckheer, Kathalijne Buitenweg, Alexander De Roo, Miquel Mayol, Erik Meijer
and observers Kestutis Kuzmickas, Gyula Hegyi.

For more information please go to http://www.agaleveuropa.be/cycle

***************************************************
Press Service of the Greens/EFA Group
in the European Parliament

Helmut Weixler
Head of Press Office

phone: 0032-2-284.4683
fax: 0032-2-284.4944
mobile phone: 0032-475-67 13 40
e-mail: hweixler@...
website: www.greens-efa.org