Bike plan: what the government plans to develop the practice

Europe 1 with AFP / Photo credits: Xose Bouzas / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP 21:52 p.m., May 04, 2023

The government will invest 2 billion euros over the next four years in France to develop cycling, infrastructure and the economic sector, as part of its cycling and mobility plan 2023-2027, we learned Thursday from government sources. In total, more than 6 billion euros will be invested by 2027 if we take into account local authorities, said these same sources, on the eve of the presentation of the plan by the ministers of ecological transition, Christophe Béchu, and Transport, Clément Beaune.

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New bike paths to come

The government plans a whole series of measures to promote the practice of two-wheelers, starting with the development of cycle paths and lanes reserved for cycling. In 2023, the State has already planned to invest 200 million euros in infrastructure. This effort will be continued until 2027 with the extension of aid. "Over the duration of the plan, the active mobility fund will be sustained to the tune of 1.25 billion euros, or 250 million euros per year to accelerate the development of cycling facilities throughout France," says a document describing the plan.

The government also wants to promote the development of cycle routes, popular with cycle tourists, via State-region plan contracts. Currently, 57,000 km of safe cycle lanes exist on the territory. The goal is to reach 80,000 km in 2027 and 100,000 km in 2030. State aid for the purchase of a bicycle will be extended until the end of the bicycle plan in 2027. This aid will also be open to the purchase of second-hand bicycles resold by professionals.

Improving bicycle circulation

Changes to the highway code will also be tested to improve bicycle traffic. "It is proposed to install footrests at the edge of the road to allow cyclists to stop at the traffic light without having to get off the saddle," the document says. A delay in the passage to the green light for cyclists will also be tested in places to "allow cyclists to evacuate the airlock and regain sufficient speed before the departure of other vehicles".

The use of bicycles to get to work will also be supported by increasing the sustainable mobility package for the public service from 200 to 300 euros. "The state aims for 100% of its sites to be equipped with secure bicycle parking by 2027," the document adds.

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Financial support for the production of bicycles in France

To limit theft, it is planned to generalize the registration of bicycles in the national cycle identification file. The number of secure spaces near stations should also be increased to 90,000 by 2027 from 30,000 currently.

Cycling training sessions for young people aged 6 to 11 will also ramp up with 850,000 children trained each year from 2027. Finally, the State wants to support the bicycle production sector in France with the objective of exceeding 1.4 million bicycles produced in 2027 against 854,000 in 2022.