How do we get to 2040?

1. Space and liveability

• The STOP principle and health standards are the starting point in urban development, both new construction and restructuring.
• Separate bicycle infrastructure will be emission-free from 2030.
• All municipalities have:
  • designed the three cycling networks in 2025;
  • realised the three cycling networks in 2040.

2. Mobility

• In 2040, the bicycle accounts for more than 50% of all movements within the built-up area in all Dutch municipalities.
• In 2040, the bicycle is a structural component of investment policies of the government, provinces, regions and municipalities. The share of bicycle investments in total mobility investments is at least equivalent to the share of cycling kilometres of the total number of kilometres.
• In 2040, at least 40 percent of the urban logistics is carried out with cargo bikes.

3. Health and safety

• In 2040, 75 percent of Dutch people achieve the daily exercise standard, in part because they started cycling more.
• There are no more cyclist deaths due to a collision with a motorised vehicle. The number of seriously wounded cyclists is halved in 2040.
• In 2040, the total cycling network scores at the highest Fietsersbond Safety Performance Index levels or two levels higher than in 2018.

4. Cycling pleasure

• All Dutch people can participate in the cycling happiness.
• Everyone has a bicycle with which they can cycle safely and comfortably.
• Every child has a bicycle and has enough cycling experience to cycle independently and safety by the age of eight.
• All elderly can continue cycling because they can adapt their cycling (behaviour) to their own needs.
• Everyone in the Netherlands dares to cycle day and night.
• Bicycle theft has been radically reduced through the use of technical tools in and around the bike and by anti-theft plans from municipalities and the police.

Space and liveability

• Together with others, we create a strategic plan to remove existing barriers in the bicycle network. No new barriers will be created for cyclists and walkers at road, rail and water intersections. The CROW guidelines for construction width and detours are the starting point for this.
• We plead for the proximity of facilities being included as a design challenge and a starting point for environmental visions.
• We plead for climate and health standards being included as a guideline in environmental plans.
• We plead for a ban on light moped scooters as of 2025 and a ban on fossil combustion engines in the cycling infrastructure. We plead for demolition schemes, so that people can replace their existing light moped scooter with an (electric) bicycle.
• We present a ranking of cycling municipalities every two years with our Fietsstadverkiezing (Cycling City Election). This way, we stimulate municipalities to (further) improve and distinguish themselves in terms of various aspects of the bicycle policy.
• Environmental plans contain ambitious parking standards for bicycles and low car parking standards.
• Car parking spaces with newly built homes will be optional, even in the public space.
• There is a system of tradable car parking rights: those who prefer using their bicycle or shared car will save money.
• We fight for good bicycle facilities (bicycle parking, showers, dressing rooms) at all companies.

Mobility

• We are committed to a shift in the budgets of the government, provinces and municipalities for bicycles until there is a justified distribution of resources.
• We are structurally committed to bicycle investments by the government, provinces, regions and municipalities. We plead for decision-making based on an integral spatial assessment framework.
• We are committed to making inactive and polluting mobility costly in order to stimulate cycling and avoiding unnecessary investments.
• We are committed to an equal fiscal playing field for cyclists and the FietsFamilie, equal to other zero-emission vehicles, with equal lease arrangements, equal taxation and equal incentive measures.
• We plead for an increased travel allowance of 30 cents per kilometre and a reduction of the car allowance to 10 cents.
• We support being able to take bicycles onto regional buses and to increase the capacity for bringing bicycles onto all trains.
• We create support from health insurers, employers and other partners to use their resources for bicycle promotion and bicycle-friendly employment.

In the field of infrastructure, we are committed to cycling networks with a strategic and target group-oriented design.

• We plead for at least three recognisable levels in the cycling network within the built-up area;.
  • an ‘8-80’ network that is suitable for vulnerable cyclists, including separate cycling paths on busy and ‘30 kilometre per hour’ routes;
  • a main cycling network that is suitable for all cyclists, can handle peaks and at least meets all (adjusted) CROW requirements;
  • a FietsFamilie network: a new network that is suitable for quickly and safely getting fast and heavy bikes through the urban area.
• We plead for a new speed standard within the built-up area of 30 kilometres per hour in the urban area (save for some entry/exit roads) and 60 kilometres per hour on roads where cars and cyclists meet. These maximum speeds apply throughout the Netherlands.
• In terms of CROW, we are committed to changing the design standards to the increasing traffic and the diversity within the FietsFamilie with regard to weight and speed.
• We plead for designing all cycling infrastructure, to begin with the main cycling net and the 8-80 network, to be socially safe, comfortable and forgiving, without poles and dangerous verges or high curbs.
• Outside the built-up area, we plead for a nationwide network of fast cycling routes and/or FietsFamilie paths of extra high quality, which run non-stop between urban centres and to the inner city and work areas.
• In 2040, there are no more grey roads (50 kilometre per hour roads with an important residence function) and no more dangerous junctions.
• We plead for a maximum speed of 20 kilometres per hour on unlit cycling paths that are next to 30 kilometre per hour roads and are used by vulnerable groups.
• In residential areas and places where residence is the most important function, the maximum speed is 15 kilometres per hour and we are committed to adjusting and/or enforcing that speed.
• We support municipalities and provinces in improving the safety of the cycling network in the Netherlands so that in 2040, all parts of the cycling network will have gone up two scales on the Fietsersbond Safety Performance Index or have been moved up to the highest level.
• We plead for a bicycle-friendly adjustment of traffic lights: where needed, they are designed in such a way that cyclists and pedestrians are given priority.

 Safety and health

• In half of the Dutch municipalities (190), general practitioners prescribe ‘prescription bicycles’ rather than medicine.
• We organise or support activities that fulfil the rights of all children on a bicycle and help children to cycle about 10,000 kilometres before their twelfth birthday in order to gain experience.
• We are committed to the rights of all Dutch people on bicycles, a safe cycling network and clean air.
• We plead with municipalities for safe school environments and routes, allowing all children from the age of eight to cycle to school independently.
• We ensure tailor-made advice for all cyclists on how to better use and adjust their bike to increase their cycling pleasure.
• We provide courses that allow cyclists to improve their bicycle and cycling style, causing them to hit the road safer and more comfortably.
• We help people who do not yet want to cycle themselves or not anymore to go out in bicycle-rickshaws to combat social isolation.
• We plead with governments and insurers to consider exercise as an integral component of the prevention policy, to develop concrete cycling products for their customers and to set up a reward policy for people to stimulate them to cycle more.

Cycling pleasure

• We are committed to reward projects with schools, municipalities and employers for parents who cycle to school and sports clubs with their children.
• From 2020, we will organise a large national cycling day together with others to celebrate the happiness of the Netherlands.
• We plead with governments that people must always be able to reach a green cycling route for recreational cycling within ten minutes from their place of residence.
• We plead with recreational organisations to develop many more accessible and ‘experience’ cycling routes.
• We organise activities that make cycling possible for everyone, such as cycling courses and stimulating bicycle-rickshaws, double bicycles, cycling buddies and cycling clubs. This way, anyone that wants to can go out and about with others.