France to spend €43m to improve cycling paths
France is to dedicate €43 million to create more cycling paths in 111 areas, as part of a wider project designed to encourage people to triple daily push bike use by 2024, from 3% to 9%.
The funds were confirmed by the ecology minister on Saturday September 14, after the plans were first announced at the end of 2018.
A total of 152 projects have been launched, with a total budget of €43.7 million.
The plan is part of the government’s “bike plan (plan vélo)”, which includes a spending budget of €350 million over seven years to develop the cycling network across the country.
Of this, €50 million will be used to improve surrounding infrastructure.
A statement from the ministry said: “With 275 dossiers submitted by 170 collectives or companies, the result of this call for projects confirms the strong enthusiasm regions have for the creation of bike infrastructure."
This includes resolving bike path issues around places such as train stations, or near motorways. Currently, some areas are still unsafe for bikes.
Plans will also create underpaths, tunnels, and bridges; as well as improving the safety of roundabouts and crossings.
