Cycling lanes in Luxembourg: investments will equal those of the Netherlands and Denmark

An ambitious investment plan will increase Luxembourg’s cycling lanes by 40%: 840 km by 2021.

Luxembourg’s cycling lane network is going to increase quickly in the next few years. With a new investment plan, the country aims to increase its cycling paths by 40% bringing the current network to about 840 km within five years, 750 of which will be built by 2018. A first law adopted in 1999 governed the construction of a national network of 41 bike lanes of 1,400 km, of which 613 km (about 40%) have already been built.

 

cycling lanes luxembourg
The Grand Duchy will bring the current cycle path network to about 840 km within five years © Mika/Corbis

 

Luxembourg’s plan for increasing its bike infrastructure is presented to the EU

In October, during the Presidency of the Council of the European Union held by Luxembourg, the Ministers of Transport of various European cities gathered together. The meeting was organised by the Minister of Transport of the Grand Duchy François Bausch, who, with his ambitious plan, has demonstrated to strongly commit himself to improve the cycling path network in his country. The summit recognised the fact that bicycles are eco-friendly means of transport whose dignity should be valued and protected like that of other vehicles. A European coordinator will assess if the European countries succeed in building and completing their planned cycle path networks.

 

Cycling lanes in Luxembourg: unprecedented investments

In order to complete the cycle path network in the next 10-15 years, eight million euros will be allocated every year. Moreover, the government of Luxembourg will allocate funds to promote the use of bicycles when on holidays, connect local cycling lanes to the national network, encourage intermodality in relation to bicycles being used in combination with trains and improve access to stations.

 

Therefore, the country’s total investments will account for 11.75 million euros yearly, the equivalent of 21 euros per person. To understand Luxembourg’s economic effort just consider that Denmark is investing less than five euros per person yearly, the Netherlands two and Germany one.

 

When the European Cyclists’ Federation published its second Barometer of cycling in 2015 Luxembourg was one of the nations that made the greatest strides compared to the 2013 edition, moving from the 19th to the 13th position. In any case, the Grand Duchy is still far from the Netherlands and Denmark that started to hardly invest in cycling in the ‘70s. Improving cycling infrastructures in Luxembourg is also more difficult because the country is not flat: its goal will be to promote the use of electric bicycles instead of cars for travelling from France, Belgium and Germany.

 

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