The government unveils its “Bicycle and Active Mobility Plan” for France

On Friday September 14, the French government unveiled its“Plan Vélo et Mobilités Actives” aimed at increasing bicycle travel in France.
3 ministers were present in Angers to present the main thrusts of the national Bicycle Plan: Prime Minister Édouard Philippe, the new Minister of State for Ecological and Solidarity Transition François de Rugy and the Minister for Transport Élisabeth

The Plan Vélo, eagerly awaited by French cycling associations and stakeholders, comprises 25 measures aimed at tripling the modal share of cycling in France to 9% of daily trips by bicycle by 2024.

For the first time, the French government has made bicycle development one of its priorities, allocating 350 million euros over 7 years to promote cycling.

The 4 main thrusts of the national cycling plan

1) Developingcycling facilities andimproving safety for cyclists

Examples of measures: safe bike lanes, bike lanes at traffic lights, improvements to visibility at crosswalks, development of two-way cycling.

2) Combating bicycle theft

Examples of measures: marking bicycles, creating secure parking facilities, particularly at stations and interchanges, bicycle parking in buildings.

3) Tax incentives for businesses

Examples of measures: contribution to employees’ home-work commuting expenses, introduction of a sustainable mobility package, reimbursement of expenses in the tax scale, support for the purchase of VAEs, support for the provision of bicycle fleets by companies.

4) Developing a “cycling culture

Examples of measures: early learning in schools, a school mobility plan to make home-school journeys easier and safer, and the inclusion of new forms of mobility in the organization of mobility.

The aim of all these measures is to remove the disincentives to cycling and extend its use on a daily basis, positioning the bicycle as a preferred means of transport.

The increase in bicycle travel will generate a growing demand for new infrastructure dedicated to bicycles: bicycle parking facilities, secure bicycle parking facilities and maintenance equipment.

These new government measures will enable French bicycle operators like Abri Plus to continue facilitating bicycle travel andimproving bicycle services.

For the past 25 years, Abri Plus has been advising and assisting companies and local authorities (municipalities, towns, cities, conurbations…) with the installation of bicycle parking facilities and secure bicycle shelters. Don’t hesitate to contact us!