Parliament hears the first reading of an amendment to Poland’s traffic laws, Thursday, to adjust the regulations to European standards for bicycle users.

Civic Platform MP Ewa Wolak Group from the parliamentary cycling group told Polskie Radio that the amendment will give priority for bikes on the road and more rights to cyclists.

Wolak added that the objective is to increase the number of bicycles on Polish roads.

The bill is the initiative of the NGO Cities for Bikes. Cezary Grochowski from the organisation says that cyclists in Poland need state support.

The most important of the planned changes is the creation of more bike lanes in major cities with clear markings on where cyclists have priority.

The project also envisages the elimination of a number of legal anomalies, such as the ban on carrying children on bike trailers.

According to statistics, Poland has a high rate of cycle accidents but with ten times less bike son the road than in Western Europe. (pg)