Outside the Netherlands

The degree to which other countries develop a national bicycle policy varies widely within Europe as well: National cycling policies Europe (Nationaal fietsbeleid Europa). To the Netherlands the features of national cycling policies of many countries are relev...

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Outside the Netherlands

The degree to which other countries develop a national bicycle policy varies widely within Europe as well: National cycling policies Europe (Nationaal fietsbeleid Europa). To the Netherlands the features of national cycling policies of many countries are relevant; sometimes only specific parts – such as the emphasis on health of the Austrian goals (Masterplan Cycling (Masterplan Radfahren)). Of more general relevance to the Netherlands are the ‘national’ policies particularly in Belgium (at least the region of Vlaanderen) and Germany (at least the federal state of Nordrhein-Westfalen). In Vlaanderen the strong emphasis on promotion is instructive (‘Sensitizing’ the Flemish towards cycling (Vlamingen de fiets op ‘sensibiliseren’’). And most certainly also the highly intrinsic control, coupled with subsidies, of local authorities, by means of the mobility convenants (Flemish mobility convenants an example for the Netherlands? (Vlaamse Mobiliteitsconvenants als voorbeeld voor Nederland?)). In Nordrhein-Westfalen there is strong co-operation among (larger) towns in the AGFS – Arbeitsgemeinschaft Fahrradfreundliche Städte und Gemeinden (Nordrhein-Westfalen). Cycling policies, often highly developed, of many towns are fully described and evaluated there (Bicycle-friendly towns in NRW - measures and effectiveness study (Fahrradfreundliche Städte und Gemeinden in NRW -Massnahmen- und Wirksamkeitsuntersuchung)).

6 Results

Report	Health first in Austrian Masterplan Radfahren Helmut Koch - TRAFICO , Bundesministerium für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Umwelt und Wasserwirtschaft 2006 Following the Dutch example, the Austrian government has established a national bicycle policy, the Masterplan Radfahren. The new national bicycle policy is indeed wide ranging, both in analyses and in measures.
Article	North Rhine Westphalia 2001 The German state North Rhine Westphalia stimulates municipal bicycle policy though a network of bicycle-friendly cities, membership to which is regulated by an expert committee.
Article	Belgians on their bikes: ‘sensitisation’ 2005 In contrast with the Netherlands, in Flanders (local) promotion campaigns for bicycle use are held. Here too, there is a major lack of effectiveness figures.
Article	Can we learn from abroad? Ursula Lehner-Lierz - Velo-consult , Fietsverkeer 2007 Article on foreign bicycle experts’ views on Dutch bicycle policy.
Report	10 years of US bicycle policy (English) 2006 Evaluation : 10 years of federal promotion of bicycle policy and bicycle use in the United States led to many activities and large budgets with limited results.
Report	National bicycle policies in Europe 2004 OESO booklet on national bicycle policies in various European countries, based on a questionnaire. The decentralisation of Dutch bicycle policy is implicit but clearly visible.