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)).