While some European countries are making strides in promoting soft mobility through cycling plans, others lag behind, prompting the European Cyclists' Federation (ECF) to assess and rank nations based on their efforts.
Belgium has emerged as a trailblazer in sustainable transportation with the approval of its inaugural national cycling action plan, titled "BE CYCLIST - Plan d'Action pour la Promotion du Vélo du gouvernement fédéral 2021-2024" (Action Plan for the Promotion of the Bicycle of the Federal Government 2021-2024).
The plan, championed by the Prime Minister and supported by the Council of Ministers, marks a historic shift in the country's approach to cycling.
Going regional
The catalyst for this groundbreaking initiative lies in the decentralisation of competences to the regions of Flanders, Wallonia, and the Brussels-Capital Region. Capitalising on post-COVID-19 behavioural shifts, the plan strategically addresses nationwide changes, aiming to encourage and facilitate increased bicycle usage.
Comprising 52 measures structured around three key axes – practical access, safety enhancements, and normalization of cycling – the plan's objective is clear: to promote and enable more bicycle trips across the entire country. Measures include changes to traffic laws, the promotion of intermodality, fiscal incentives, and addressing the issue of bicycle theft.
Assigning each measure to relevant government officials ensures a collaborative effort for effective implementation. The plan ambitiously seeks to increase the modal share of bikes among civil servants, sending a strong message of commitment to a sustainable and cyclist-friendly future.
Rest of Europe follows suit
As Belgium takes bold steps, other European nations are also recognising the importance of national cycling strategies. In 2023, Belarus, Croatia, Hungary, and Israel have joined the list of countries with ongoing national cycling plans. Notably, only 14 out of 54 European countries currently possess a comprehensive national strategy for cycling.
France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and the United Kingdom are among those without a concrete national strategy, though seven others, including Norway and the Netherlands, have similar initiatives in place. These strategies commonly focus on infrastructure, road safety, intermodality, and traffic laws.
Financial commitments vary, with Ireland leading as the largest investor, allocating €72 per capita per year. Luxembourg, Flanders (Belgium), and Scotland follow suit with significant investments. Conversely, France's budget for its bicycle plan is less than €10 per year per inhabitant.
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However, challenges persist, with four countries having expired national strategies requiring updates and eight countries in the early stages of developing their first dedicated policies. Alarmingly, 21 countries, particularly in Eastern Europe, including Albania, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Estonia, Iceland, Poland, Turkey, and Russia, have yet to consider a national cycling strategy.
Belgium's BE CYCLIST action plan serves as a beacon, illustrating the transformative potential of integrating cycling into national transportation systems, urging other nations to follow suit for a more sustainable and cyclist-friendly future.
