Provincial and regional

Until a few years ago provincial authorities played only a minor role in bicycle policy. Their main concern was specifically cyclist safety on and along provincial roads (being the road maintenance authority) - and in addition recreational cycling routes/bike paths (still relevant: see Regional bicycle route networks and  ‘Bicycle route planners lend cycling a modern image’). Due to the extensive decentralisation processes in the nineteen nineties a considerable number of duties have been added. To the provincial workload as well as that of metropolitan districts: local authorities co-operating within a metropolitan area. Crucial to the decentralisation is the provision to local authorities of subsidies for infrastructure and exploitation of public transport. The rules that provinces and metropolitan districts may introduce in awarding the considerable amounts of money involved, may strongly affect the intensity of local bicycle policy (Directing (bicycle) traffic policy through GDU). As yet local authorities themselves appear to demand subsidies for bicycle facilities (Sustained attention for bicycle facilities).

Besides providing subsidies for local bicycle policy, provinces and metropolitan districts may also display a more intrinsic involvement, a certain degree of co-ordination. This is most important and relevant for metropolitan districts with a continuous built-up area consisting of several towns. Quite often a lot of attention is paid to a common regional bicycle network – as for instance in Haaglanden: Business-like approach favours bicycle policies. Provinces, too, may encourage local authorities to identify and use opportunities for bicycle traffic, as demonstrated by the province of Noord-Brabant: Opportunities for bicycles in urban conglomerates in Noord-Brabant (Kansen voor de fiets in stedelijke agglomeraties in Noord-Brabant). Often it is obvious that provinces concentrate on specific types of bicycle facilities: more expensive, less purely local. For instance bicycle highways between neighbouring towns (Stimulate bicycle use over intermediate distances as well (Ook fietsgebruik op middellange afstand stimuleren)). To give but one example: the cycling route between Etten-Leur and Breda (Intercity route Breda-Etten-Leur) (Interlokale route Breda-Etten-Leur)).