Can you introduce yourself and your role? 
My name is Chloé Charrat, and I’ve been working at the French Cycling Association (FUB) for more than two years as an advocacy officer. Until recently, my work focused mainly on cycling in rural areas. A few months ago, I shifted my focus toward health, which has become an important part of our advocacy strategy. 

Why did the FUB decide to focus more on health? 
For many years, our advocacy work concentrated on traditional cycling topics such as infrastructure and safety standards. These remain essential, but we felt we needed to broaden the conversation. We wanted to reach new audiences, engage new stakeholders, and build partnerships beyond the cycling sector. At the same time, France adopted an ambitious National Cycling and Walking Plan in 2023, with €250 million per year dedicated to active mobility. While this was a major achievement, the future of that commitment has become less certain under the current government. 

As a result, we began connecting cycling to wider societal challenges. We still advocate for safe cycling infrastructure, but we now do so through different lenses. I chose to focus on two themes in particular: health and social inclusion. 

How do you connect cycling and health? 
One important aspect of our new strategy is that we no longer want to speak alone. We wanted healthcare professionals to help make the case. To support this work, I created an expert committee made up of seven specialists, including psychologists, physiotherapists, and health economists. They are not cycling activists, but they work with patients every day and see the benefits of active mobility firsthand. Many already recommend cycling as part of prevention and treatment strategies. 

Together, we produced a report aimed at informing the public debate ahead of the 2027 French presidential election. One of its most striking findings comes from health economics: every kilometre travelled by bicycle generates approximately one euro in avoided healthcare and social costs in France. That figure is powerful because economic arguments play a major role in public policy discussions. But the report also highlights the many health benefits of cycling, from improved physical and mental health to disease prevention. 

We also emphasise the concept of co-benefits. When someone chooses to cycle, the benefits extend far beyond mobility. Cycling contributes to lower carbon emissions, greater social inclusion, increased autonomy, improved wellbeing, and more liveable cities. In that sense, mobility, health, and environmental sustainability are deeply interconnected. 

What is the aim of the national roadmap on health and mobility? 
Our primary goal is to influence the debate ahead of the 2027 presidential election. We wanted to bring together expertise and partnerships that would allow us to demonstrate to political candidates that investing in cycling is not just a transport policy issue, it is also a health policy issue. Our next step is to meet with the teams preparing presidential campaigns and present our recommendations. 

What impact could this approach have if it is widely embraced? 
The report contains four main recommendations. First, we call for a national strategy that explicitly connects mobility and health. France has ambitious plans for active mobility, but not for health policies linked to mobility. Today, these areas are largely handled by separate ministries that rarely work together. We believe they should collaborate much more closely. 

Second, we want healthcare professionals to be better informed about active mobility. Studies show that only a small minority of doctors discuss cycling or walking with their patients. We need training and awareness so that active mobility becomes part of preventive healthcare. 

Third, we continue to call for high-quality cycling infrastructure. We can encourage people to cycle, but if the infrastructure is unsafe or nonexistent, especially in rural areas, change will be limited. 

Finally, we propose a national awareness campaign focused on active lifestyles. Our suggested slogan is: “Move, Breathe, Cycle.” Such a campaign could support the many associations already working with children, adults, and older people across the country. 

Even if only some of these recommendations are implemented, creating stronger links between health and mobility would already be a major step forward. 

Why is this particularly important for young people? 
France faces a serious challenge when it comes to physical activity among young people. The country ranks 119th out of 146 countries worldwide for adolescent physical activity levels. 

Recent physical fitness tests in schools revealed worrying results. Many children struggle to run more than 400 metres without stopping. Cardiologists have also highlighted that the cardiovascular capacity of young people has decreased by about 25% in thirty years. 

Of course, screens and sedentary lifestyles play a role, as they do in many countries. But mobility habits are also important. In France, most children are driven to school by car. Walking and cycling rates remain very low. A key reason is safety. Many parents do not feel comfortable allowing their children to cycle independently because the infrastructure is inadequate. As a result, cycling to school is no longer part of everyday culture for many families. France may have the Tour de France, but when it comes to everyday cycling for children, we are not performing particularly well. 

Were young people involved in developing the roadmap? 
Yes, although not directly through the expert committee. We relied heavily on existing research, including a major study by ADEME, the French ecological transition agency, which examined mobility among young people. One of its most interesting findings was that young people identified cycling as their preferred mode of transport for travelling to school, while parents believed their children preferred travelling by car. 

We also drew on insights from our own campaign, La Vélo Vibe, which included focus groups with teenagers in northern France. We asked them how they travel, how they would like to travel, and what barriers prevent them from cycling. 

For this particular report, however, our strategy was to focus on health expertise. Healthcare professionals were the most effective voices to help deliver our message to policymakers and presidential candidates. 

How would you like collaboration with health professionals to evolve? 
We published the report only recently, but we are already inviting members of the expert committee to join media interviews and public discussions. We also hope they will accompany us when we meet political candidates and decision-makers. Their voices complement ours. Healthcare professionals bring credibility and practical experience that cycling advocates alone cannot provide. We would also like the committee to continue beyond this project and help develop future policy proposals. It could become a long-term platform for cooperation between the health and mobility sectors. 

Another important partnership is with the French Cycling Federation, which represents competitive and sports cycling. Historically, our organisations did not always share the same positions. Today, however, we are working together because we agree that cycling should be treated as a public health priority. By bringing together different parts of the cycling community and the health sector, we can build a much stronger case for change. 


Continue the conversation with Chloé on cycling, health, youth and social inclusion at Velo-city in session 3.2 Winning the next generation: Campaigns to get young people on bikes and session 5.5 From barriers to belonging: Cycling for social inclusion.