CycleRAP Receives Prestigious ECF Road Safety Award

The International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) is proud to announce that its pioneering CycleRAP program has been awarded the 2025 European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) Road Safety Award, at the Velo-city Conference in Gdańsk yesterday.

The award, recognising remarkable achievements in cycling and active mobility promotion, was presented in front of more than 1,300 cycling advocates, policymakers, and mobility experts.

iRAP’s representative, Shanna Lucchesi, accepted the award from ECF CEO Jill Warren and ECF President Henk Swarttouw, alongside fellow winners from across the globe.

CycleRAP is an easy, affordable and fast method of evaluating road and bicycling infrastructure for safety. Already applied in more than 20 countries, CycleRAP aims to reduce crashes and improve safety specifically for bicyclists and other light mobility users by identifying high risk locations without the need for crash data.

“We are deeply honoured to receive the ECF Road Safety Award,” said Shanna Lucchesi, accepting the award on behalf of iRAP. “CycleRAP is supporting communities worldwide in building safer cycling environments, and this recognition by the European Cyclists’ Federation affirms the value of our work and innovation to reduce risk for this vulnerable road user group.”

ECF CEO Jill Warren praised the winners, stating, “There are so many outstanding initiatives around the world that are making cycling more accessible as well as improving people’s health and lives, so it was not easy for our jury to select the winners. We congratulate this year’s winners and are delighted we can recognise them and celebrate their successes with the Velo-citizen community.”

The ECF Road Safety Award recognises excellence in safeguarding cyclists through innovation, evidence-based tools, and collaboration.

iRAP extends heartfelt thanks the European Cyclists’ Federation for highlighting the importance of data-driven safety interventions, and Geveko Markings as sponsor of the Road Safety Award. We also recognise The Royal Dutch Touring Club (ANWB), Fundacion MAPFRE, SWOV, Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and PTV Group for their instrumental support in the development of CycleRAP.

During the Velo-city Conference, Shanna presented For Geeks and Dummies: Improving Cycling Safety and Infrastructure Through Data, and iRAP shared the success of CycleRAP in a shared exhibition booth with Lane Patrol.

For more information on CycleRAP, visit irap.org/cyclerap/.

About the winners

CycleRAP by iRAP – Road Safety Award
The innovative CycleRAP tool by iRAP assesses the safety of cycling infrastructure by analysing road features without requiring crash data. It has already been implemented in various locations worldwide, and its adaptability makes it valuable for diverse stakeholders aiming to improve road safety. In São Paulo, Brazil, for example, over 1,115 images from a crowdsourced database were analysed and the results shared with road authorities, to help them prioritise investments, and with the local cycling association, assisting their advocacy for safer streets with powerful data. With global reach and a strong focus on protecting vulnerable groups – including schoolchildren – CycleRAP stands out as a flexible and effective solution for cycling safety.

The City of Poznań, Poland – Cycling Infrastructure Award
The City of Poznań inaugurated its new Berdychow Bridges in February this year. The bridges connect the Old Market Square with the green spaces along the Warta River, offering a beautifully designed route dedicated to both cyclists and pedestrians. The bridges span 165 metres over the Warta River and 117 metres over the Ulgi Canal, and feature integrated lighting as well as increased greenery, street lighting and signage in the surrounding area. More than 50,000 cycling trips – meaning more than 1,600 a day – were recorded in the first month alone, making the project a new mobility landmark for the city.

The City of Stockholm, Sweden – Cycling Improvement Award
The City of Stockholm saw a remarkable 18% increase in bicycle traffic between 2023 and 2024, based on measurements from 19 sites. The growth reflects consistent, year-round increases and is underpinned by investments in cycling lanes, parking infrastructure, and winter maintenance. Notable initiatives include upgrading 90 km of regional routes and facilitating the Bike2Green project, a kilometre-based incentive scheme for daily commuting. The city’s long-term Regional Cycling Plan aims to double its cycling modal share to 20% by 2030.

UNEP, UN-Habitat and the World Health Organisation – Best Active Mobility Initiative Award
In collaboration with UN Habitat and the WHO, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) led the launch of the Pan African Action Plan for Active Mobility (PAAPAM) in November 2024. This initiative aims to transform mobility across Africa by prioritising the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, and other non-motorised transport users. UNEP played a central role in coordinating the development of PAAPAM, engaging over 1,300 stakeholders – including governments, NGOs, academia, and civil society – from across the continent.  From 2025 to 2027, UNEP and UN Habitat, leveraging its experience in urban planning and policy development, will support PAAPAM implementation in five countries: Kenya, Morocco, Cameroon, Ghana and Malawi. If further funding is secured, more countries will follow.

The City of Gdańsk, Poland – Special recognition
The City of Gdańsk received a special recognition for its long-standing and continuous efforts to promote everyday cycling and sustainable mobility. Gdańsk saw a 70% increase in bicycle traffic between 2017 and 2024, and has become a major hub in the EuroVelo network of long-distance cycle routes.

The next edition of the ECF Awards, marking their 5-year anniversary, will be held at Velo-city 2026 in Rimini, Italy, from 16-19 June 2026.