The Norwegian government have included a National Cycling Strategy (to download, see below) in the recent National Transportplan 2006-09 (Parliamentary Bill no 2003-2004). The goal is to increase cyclingin Norwegian towns and cities . The National Cycling Strategy formulates objectives and strategies to achieve this. The strategy directs special focus on development of a network of Cykling cities as an instrument to achieve increased competence ad efforts concerning cycle traffic.
By NTP 2006-2015, the Public Roads Administration has been given a new role regarding cycle traffic. The Public Roads Administration shall "be the initiator of increased cycle use, and spread knowledge about cycling and cycling measures to municipalities, counties, the public transport industry, employers, the travel industry and others".
Objectives for the work with the Network of Cycling Cities
- Increase the competence concerning arrangements for cycling in the participating towns and cities .
- Provide information on and arrange for suitable instruments for efforts on cycle traffic (cycle path inspection, cycle accounting, the ATP model for cycle planning, cycle facilities handbook, etc.)
- Market efforts and communicate experiences from participating towns and cities .
- Promote the role of the Public Roads Administration as the initiator of increased use of cycles by spreading knowledge about cycling and cycling measures to municipalities, the public transport industry, employers and others.
- Contribute to provide participating cities with the necessary professional follow-up.
Target groups and players in the Network
The network of cycling cities is open to all municipalities and counties. The network will emphasise on making arrangements in cities and towns with more than 5.000 inhabitants, but will approach all municipalities that wish to concentrate efforts on increasing cycle traffic. Counties will be suitable participants in the network based on their responsibility for the county roads. It is important that participation in the Network is supported both politically and administratively by the municipality or county.
The regions of the Public Roads Administration will participate based on the responsibility for national roads. The Network will also be open to other organisations, but with a different form of participation. Arrangements for this will be made later on.
The most important participants in a network will be those having responsibility for development, operation and maintenance of the cycle infrastructure.
Activities in the Network
The Network of Cycling Cities will be a professional network and resource environment for participating towns and cities . The activity in the Network will be connected to three main areas:
- Network meetings, professional meetings and courses
- Study tours
- Gather information and establish information channels (internet pages, newsletters)
Organisation of the Network
The formal organisation of the Network consists of the secretariat, project owner and council. The Norwegian Cyclists' Association has a secretariat function, and has been engaged for this assignment by the Public Roads Administration, the project owner. The Council consists of representatives from the municipalities, counties, Public Roads Administration, the Ministry of Environment, and the Directorate of Health and Social Affairs.
Contact persons:
Public Roads Administration
Sunniva Schjetne
Tel. +47 22 07 36 89
Hege Herheim Tassell
Tel. +47 22 07 35 78
Norwegian Cyclists’ Association
Trond Berget
Tel. +47 22 47 30 40
National Cycling Strategy to download (280 kB) Cycle Path Inspections, guidelines to download (938 kB)
List of members to download (213 kB)
