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Germany‘s National Cycling Plan 2002-

2012

Cooperation between the Federal Level and the

Länder

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Contents

Policy resolution Division of responsibilities for cycling policy Federal Government-Länder Joint Working Group Bicycle portal Bicycle academy Non-investment cycling projects

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Resolution to institute National Cycling Plan passed by the German Parliament in 2002

Main goal: promotion of cycling Supporting municipalities through projects, information and

PR initiatives Within the period 2002 - 2012

Cycling as a system Not solely about infrastructure Non-investment programme

Four pillars Federal-Länder joint working group Internet Bicycle Portal Bicycle Academy Federal aid programme for non-investment measures

Policy Resolution

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Source: German National Cycling Plan

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Division of Responsibilities

Local Upkeep and construction of municipal roadways and

paths Implementation and planning of specific projects

Länder Upkeep and construction of state roads Providing the municipalities with funds for specific

projects (e.g. Bike & Ride at train stations)

Federal Government Upkeep and construction of motorways Providing the legal framework and oversees policy areas

relevant to cycling

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Funding non-investment measures

Administrative District

Regional Level: Länder

Federal Level

Local Level (Cities and Municipalities)Responsible for Cycling: planning and implementation of specific projects

Investment Funding

Financing

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Government-Länder Joint Working Group (B/L-AK–pillar 1)

Formed in 1998

Supervised by the BMBVS Working Group on Cycling

Members representing: Several Federal Ministries All Länder Leading Municipal

Associations Deutsche Bahn (German

Railways) Cyclist Associations Other Players

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B/L-AK (2): Function and Topics

Regulatory framework: optimizing the legal framework by granting municipalities more flexibility

Coordination: overview of target-oriented operational levels and programmes at various governmental levels

Tourism: intermodality with railways, marketing and enhancing of trans-regional bicycle paths

Funding: reviewing expenditures/funding instruments for the practitioners database funding handbook (Förderfibel), finding approaches to reform the financing of cycling policy measures

Communication: exchanging best-practice, PR measures, (inter)national knowledge transfer, organizing expert panels, workshops, establishing strategic public-private partnerships

Key organ of vertical integration: exchange of information between decision-makers and interest groups

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Bicycle portal www.nrvp.de (pillar 2)

Public repository of pooled know-how with 5000 entries on

federal initiatives and funding measures,

(inter)national practical examples

news updates literature database list of events

Internal area for cooperation and coordination among cycling specialists at the federal level

Newsletter to 1500 recipients

English section www.nrvp.de/en CyE download section news updates international practice

examples

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Bicycle academy (pillar 3)

Training to municipal players

Organized “on location” throughout Germany

Update participants on latest technical developments and changes to the legal framework

Funded by the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Building and Urban Development (BMVBS)

Example of themes

Designation of specific surfaces for cycling traffic

Opening of one-way streets for two-way cycling traffic

Provisions restricting cycling traffic on footpaths to protect pedestrians and improve transport safety.

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Bicycle academy (2)

Topics Structural issues related to cycle path constructionTraffic safety and cyclingLegal issues related to cyclingCommunication and cooperation to promote cycling

Bicycle Academy as brand name for high quality practice-oriented training

One-day seminars

Two-day seminars

Conferences

Excursions

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Non-investment projects - federal funding (pillar 4)

Cycling promotion is seen by the Federal Government as an integral part of sustainable urban and transport development and contributes to

environment and climate protection urban development transport safety health

Therefore the Federal Government facilitates and coordinates competitions, campaigns,

conferences and pilot programmes earmarked annual fundings (3 Mio. Euro) in the

federal budget since 2008

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Non-investment cycling projects - federal funding (2)

Measures funded: Visible PR measures and

campaigns Research initiatives Informational measures Advanced and further

training programmes Transport safety

improvement measures General promotion of

dialogue

Dissemination of information on positive impacts of cycling

Spheres of action Health Environmental issues Urban development Transport Transport safety Tourism

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Sources and Links

National Cycling Plan 2002–2012 “Ride Your Bike”: www.nrvp.de (http://edoc.difu.de/edoc.php?id=YFGDITZ2) Second German federal government cycling report on the state of cycling in the Federal Republic of Germany, 2007: www.bmvbs.de/Anlage/original_1018367/Zweiter-Fahrradbericht-der-Bundesregierung-barrierefrei.pdf (in German) Funding guidelines, application forms, bulletins: www.nrvp.de/foerderung-bund/foerderung-nrvp/antragstellung.phtml (in German)Measures supported within the context of the National Cycling Plan: www.nrvp.de/foerderung-bund/foerderung-nrvp/massnahmen.phtml (in German)

Imprint Publisher: German Institute of Urban Affairs (Difu) gGmbH, Zimmerstraße 13–15, 10969 Berlin, Department Mobility and Infrastructure. Editors: Sara Van Boeckhout, Jörg Thiemann-Linden cycling-expertise@difu.de forschung-radverkehr@difu.de