French government launches bicycle plan

By the year 2024, the French government wants to triple the share of cycling in the daily commute of the French, which currently stands at no more than 3%. In order to achieve that goal, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, Minister for Ecological Transition François de Rugy and Minister of Transport Elisabeth Borne, presented an ambitious bicycle plan, including an array of 25 different measures .

Markings and closed bicycle storage facilities to fight theft

To fight against the plague of bicycle theft, French railway company SNCF will be asked to build secured bicycle parking facilities, and municipalities are motivated to do so as well. Furthermore, as is already the case for motorcycles, bicycles will have to be marked to fight theft, resulting in a bicycle owners register that can be consulted by the police.

Infrastructural development

One of the important elements of the plan is ensuring real continuity in the network of bike paths. The plan provides financial help for municipalities adapting infrastructure wherever bicycle paths are interrupted by obstacles such as a beltways or interchanges in order to ensure uninterrupted bicycle passage. French press named an amount of no less than 350 million euros, over seven years, for this part of the plan.

Cyclist safety

Furthermore, the plan prioritizes the safety of cyclists. At traffic lights, a safe zone for cyclists should systematically be installed, and two way bicycle traffic will be allowed on all communal roads with speed limits of 50 km/h.

There will also be an important increase in the number of lessons on safe cycling provided to school children, with the objective that all of them would know how to safely ride a bicycle before 6th grade.

A "sustainable mobility package"

Another part of the plan is the creation of a bicycle allowance that is to be paid by the employer, such as the allowance that already exists for the use of public transport. Instead of the kilometric bicycle allowance currently in force, the government wants to create a "sustainable mobility package" to be adopted by the employers. This optional package could be as high as 400 euros per year.

Source: Francetvinfo, Courrier de l’Ouest, France 2

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