Balkans | European countries want to expand the use of environmentally friendly bicycles

In Europe, governments that want to promote the use of environmentally friendly and healthy transportation are taking various steps, such as increasing the number of bicycle lanes.

The bicycle, which was invented in Europe in the 19th century, is an environmentally friendly and healthy alternative means of transportation.

In order to promote cycling, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 3 as “World Cycling Day” in 2018.

While the Netherlands is called the “land of bicycles” in Europe, where cycling culture is spread, the “Cycling in France” race is known all over the world.

The Netherlands, the land of bicycles

The bicycle, which is part of daily life in the Netherlands, is used by everyone from the age of seven to seventy.

There are 23 million bicycles in the country with a population of 17 million. The Netherlands owns 2.3% of the world’s one billion bikes, according to data from the Dutch Cyclists’ Association.

About a million new bikes are sold in the country each year, and the majority of people use used bikes. In the Netherlands, bicycles are used for 31 percent leisure, 22 percent for work, 18 percent for school and 14 percent for shopping.

In the country where the shared bike app is active, there are approximately 22,000 bikes at more than 300 different points.

In the Netherlands, where half a million bicycles are stolen every year, the damages from this theft amount to $600 million annually.

The most bicycle-friendly cities in the world are Utrecht in the Netherlands, Münster in Germany, Antwerp in Belgium, Copenhagen in Denmark, and Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Cycling is a compatible sport in France

According to French government data, 4.5 percent of French people in the country in 2021 use bicycles on a daily basis. Three quarters of cyclists in the country are preferred for sports and travel.

France provided 67 million euros to its citizens to buy bicycles in 2017-2022. 17 million bikes have been sold in the country since 2017.

The government has allocated €2 billion to the “Cycling and Walking Plan 2027-2030” in order to encourage the use of bicycles. In this context, it aims to reach the goal of 100,000 km of bicycle paths and 90,000 safe parking spaces for bicycles by 2030 in the country.

The government wants the bicycle to be an alternative means of short trips and that the use of this vehicle is widespread among children.

While shared bicycles will relieve the burden of public transport in Paris, it will be possible to reach sports venues for use in the 2024 Paris Olympics by bike.

This year’s Tour de France, which has been running since 1903, will start on July 1 in Bilbao, Spain.

Biking trails intertwine with nature in Belgium

There are many cycle paths intertwined with nature in Belgium.

The bicycle, which is preferred most for trips, is used by half of the public as a means of transportation.

Since the Flemish region is flatter and more developed in terms of infrastructure, it is more suitable for cycling. Bikes are used in this region eight times more often than in the rest of the country.

In Belgium, about 15 percent of people commute by bike to work. The government is carrying out projects to promote cycling in Brussels, increasing the number of bike lanes.

Every year, on the third Sunday in September, the roads in Brussels are closed to traffic and bicycle use is encouraged.

Cycling is indispensable for 55 percent of Germans

According to the German Ministry of Transport, bicycles are used as a means of transportation in the country during leisure time, during holidays, at work and at school.

While the number of bicycle users increased in Germany during the Kovid-19 period, interest continued to increase after the pandemic.

80 percent of Germans use bicycles and 55 percent of the public see bicycles as an indispensable means of transportation. About 80 percent of households own at least 1 bicycle, and 30 percent own 3 or more bicycles. There are 78 million bicycles in the country.

While the German government and local governments encourage the use of bicycles, major cities are also building wide bike lanes.

The government supports the use of bicycles, which it believes will contribute significantly to achieving climate protection goals, through the various programs it has set up for local governments.

Under the City and State programme, the government has allocated a total of more than €1 billion until 2024 to improve bicycle infrastructure for local authorities.

AA