2023-05-04 22:00:47
The government is changing gears. The State will invest 2 billion euros over the next four years in France to develop cycling, infrastructure and the economic sector, as part of its cycling and mobility plan 2023-2027, we have learned Thursday from government sources.
In total, more than 6 billion euros will be invested by 2027 if local authorities are taken into account, indicated these same sources, on the eve of the presentation of the plan by the ministers of Ecological Transition, Christophe Béchu, and Transport, Clément Beaune. The government is planning a whole series of measures to promote the practice of two-wheelers, starting with the development of cycle paths and lanes reserved for bicycles.
State aid for purchases extended until 2027
In 2023, the State has already planned to invest 200 million euros in infrastructure. This effort will be continued until 2027 with the extension of aid. “Over the duration of the plan, the active mobility fund will be made permanent to the tune of 1.25 billion euros, or 250 million euros per year to accelerate the development of cycling facilities throughout France”, specifies a document describing the plan. .
The government also wants to promote the development of cycle routes, popular with cycle tourists, via state-region plan contracts. Currently, 57,000 km of secure cycle lanes exist in the territory. The objective is to reach 80,000 km in 2027 and 100,000 km in 2030. State aid for the purchase of a bicycle will be extended until the end of the bicycle plan in 2027. This aid will also be open on the purchase of second-hand bicycles resold by professionals.
Highway code, training and fight against theft
Changes to the Highway Code will also be tested to improve the circulation of bicycles. “It is proposed to install footrests at the edge of the road to allow cyclists to stop at traffic lights without having to get off the saddle,” the document specifies. A delay in the passage to the green light for cyclists will also be tested in places to “allow cyclists to evacuate the airlock and regain sufficient speed before the departure of other vehicles”.
The use of bicycles to get to work will also be supported by increasing the sustainable mobility package for the public service from 200 to 300 euros. “The State aims for 100% of its sites to be equipped with secure bicycle parking by 2027”, adds the document. To limit thefts, it is planned to generalize the registration of bicycles in the national cycle identification file. The number of secure locations near stations should also be increased to 90,000 by 2027 against 30,000 currently.
Bicycle driving training sessions for young people aged 6 to 11 will also ramp up with 850,000 children trained each year from 2027. Finally, the State wants to support the bicycle production sector in France with the aim of objective of exceeding 1.4 million bicycles produced in 2027 against 854,000 in 2022.
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