TOOLS

ORGANIZATIONAL TOOLS:

The Cycling Strategy to be functional and effective, it must be implemented at three levels, the national, regional and municipal ones, in collaboration with the private and voluntary sectors. Ministry of Transport (the bicycle transport department) is the main guarantor for the implementation of the Cycling Strategy, while the Ministry for Regional Development is the sub-guarantor (cyclotourism department).  The other ministries participate in the implementation in a rather symbolical way (for example. Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Health). 

Individual regions are other key players, though the Cycling Strategy recommends them just common systematic steps. 

However, the key success of the Cycling Strategy is to cooperate with local authorities, since the municipalities are responsible for the cycling infrastructure.

Therefore, the Cycling Strategy calls upon the cities to move from passive adaptation to the increasing traffic to the active purposeful transport policy. 

This nationwide network – Cities for Cyclists Association – is beeing established in these days.  It aims to implement the steps jointly, leading to meet the objectives of the Cycling Strategy.

 

FINANTIONAL TOOLS:

The economic crisis, lack of funds – the key words of today´s society, attacking us from all sides.  But the truth is that the funds have been and will be in the world, therefore, the question should be a little different:

  1. What do we wish to invest in – cars or people?
  2. What are the benefits of investments in cycling?
  3. And then we can ask „Where will we get the money“?
  • Of course, these are primarily direct costs of constructing the cycling infrastructure (subsidies from EU Structural Funds, from the State Fund of Transport Infrastructure, from the regional budgets);
  • but the indirect costs are often overlooked; when building new and reconstructing old transportation projects the cyclists need to be taken into account (e.g. cycle lanes, bridges, underpasses);
  • the low-cost measures are often overlooked as well while they can greatly facilitate the development of cycling in the area (zones 30, cycle streets, cycle lanes, contra-flow cycling in one-way streets, allowed entry in pedestrian zones, etc.)

 

LEGAL TOOLS:

Implementation of legislative measures to protect the safety and smoothness of cycling:

  • TRANSPORT LEGISLATION – Realize changes in legislation relating to cycling in the Act No. 361/2000 Coll. on road traffic and in Regulation No. 30/2001 Coll. of the Ministry of Transport and Communications
  • APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS - The amendment of potentially related legislation and technical documents (laws, regulations of technical standards and conditions, methodological manuals and guidelines) shall always take into account the needs of cycling.  Independent and separate cycling solutions are totally inadequate, they must become an integral part of other documents (e.g. legislation on SFTI, forests, waters and protection of agricultural land).
  • SPECIFIC TECHNICAL LITERATURE - Update Specifications 179 "Designing roads for cyclists" and provide methodological material in the form of the Technical Conditions for creation, maintenance and marking the cycle routes - European, national, regional and local level.

 

MARKETING, INFORMATIONAL AND PUBLISHING TOOLS:

Marketing, informational and publishing tools are the fourth most important factor in realizing the objectives of the Cycling Strategy.  These tools are defined in the Communication Plan of the Cycling Strategy (Goal 2.3 – Measure 1 and Appendix 3).  The Communication Plan aims to reach various target groups that have the power to influence people´s viewing of the bicycle so that it was again approached as a functional, practical and useful tool designed for active urban mobility and become an integral part of the lifestyle of all population groups.  The target groups include decision makers, politicians, officials, planners, policemen, urban planners, representatives of NGOs, bicycle industry, media and active citizens.  The main activities of the Communication Plan may include networking among target groups, incl. the exchange of experience and know-how, implementation of thematic workshops, seminars and conferences, or the implementation of joint marketing projects to promote cycling.