'World bicycle day': Yuriko Backes and Lex Delles unveil the 'Vëlosummer 2024'

In 2018, the United Nations designated 3 June as International Bicycle Day, with the aim of encouraging Member States to grant the bicycle a major role in policies and to organise actions around its use and development. This day is an ideal opportunity to promote cycling as a reliable, sustainable, affordable and accessible means of transport for all.

According to a survey carried out in autumn 2023 (Ministry of Mobility and Public Works and Ilres), 50% of residents aged 6 and over in Luxembourg have cycled at least once in the previous year, with the majority wanting to do more. Of the 50% of residents who had not cycled, more than a third expressed a desire to do so. In order to promote cycling in the long term, it is vital to respond to the needs and expectations of the population, focusing on three main aspects: cycling infrastructure separated from motorised vehicles, cycle routes without dangerous or missing sections, and better signposted cycle routes.

Given Luxembourg's ambition to multiply the number of journeys made by bicycle by 2035, it is essential to integrate cycling into all planning. The aim is to make cycling a fully-fledged mode of individual transport. The government is therefore committed to investing in the development of cycling infrastructure in order to create a continuous national network of cycle paths.

As part of the celebrations for the 7th edition of World Bicycle Day, Minister Yuriko Backes stressed: 'It is essential to respond to the growing demand from the cycling community and to invest more in cycling infrastructure. In order to promote a real choice of modes of transport, we must make cycling a political priority and continue to develop safe, continuous, attractive and fluid routes. Regular cycling is not only good for your health, it also livens up our towns and helps reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality.'

'Vëlosummer 2024' – six new routes to discover

In view of the great success of the 'Vëlosummer' 2023, with 24,000 cyclists taking part, and the positive feedback from the municipalities involved, Minister Lex Delles has announced that a fifth edition will be held from 27 July to 25 August 2024. This summer, a total of 13 cyclo-tourism circuits crossing 67 municipalities, including two in France, have been selected, with more than 500 km of cycle routes. The new edition will also offer 82 km of roads reserved for cyclists (with the exception of local residents), 98% of which will be reserved for 1 or 2 weekends only.

Practical information will also be available on the map and on the www.velosummer.lu website, as well as via the "VisitLuxembourg" application. Participants will be able to order or download the map directly from the website, which provides details of the different types of itinerary, levels of difficulty, specific features of each route and additional information aimed at families. Visitors will also find information on tourist events, restaurants, hotels and points of interest along the various routes. For those who enjoy a challenge, the 'VisitLuxembourg' application will offer a 'challenges' option, with the aim of completing the 13 Vëlosummer circuits in order to win a yellow jersey. In addition, participants will be able to follow and share the adventures of Mike's challenge on social networks with 'An American in Luxembourg' during his summer cycling tour.

New regional cycling signs

During his speech, Minister Lex Delles also emphasised that the regional cycle network is a key element in the growing popularity of cycle tourism, and that it forms an important part of the cycling infrastructure. As a result, it has been decided to implement consistent signage for the regional cycle network to further enhance the experience for cyclists, and to integrate existing cycle routes into the new network. The pilot project for this new signage is being implemented in the Mullerthal region, where 750 signs will be installed and 200 km of additional cycle paths will be signposted. On-site works in the Mullerthal are scheduled for completion in the summer of 2024. The new signs should be completed in 2028 throughout the regional cycle network, creating a tourist offering that will appeal to different cyclo-tourism target groups, from families to discerning cyclists to leisure cyclists. Finally, it should be noted that the regional cycle network is being developed in close consultation with the local authorities, ensuring that the cycle paths are integrated harmoniously and effectively into the various localities.

Minister Lex Delles said: 'The success of the 'Vëlosummer' over the past four years illustrates the growing appeal of cyclo-tourism in Luxembourg. We want to continue to encourage this trend, in particular by launching a new edition of the 'Vëlosummer' and introducing new, coherent signposting for the regional cycle network. Our aim is to link up cycle paths, create new connections and thus increase the size and appeal of the whole cycle network. In this way, we are encouraging residents, commuters and tourists to discover our varied and unspoilt nature and tourist attractions by bike.'

Upcoming projects for the national cycle network

The development of a coherent, appropriate and safe cycling infrastructure is strengthening the position of cycling as a daily mode of transport. To meet cyclists' expectations in terms of safety and comfort, it is necessary to rethink and redevelop public spaces. The government is therefore committed to optimising existing infrastructure more efficiently and gradually phasing out the national cycle network.

In this context, Minister Yuriko Backes has announced the launch of several construction projects and the entry into service of six new cycling infrastructures, scheduled for 2024 and 2025.

Groundbreaking ceremony 2024/2025

• PC3 - Bollendorf-Pont: dedicated cycle lane along the river Sûre
• PC3 - between Hëttermillen and Ehnen: dedicated cycle lane along the Moselle
• PC22 - between Groësteen and Niklosbierg/Fouhren: dedicated cycle lane along the CR322
• PC2 - between Lauterborn and Echternach: permanent dedicated cycle lane along the N11
• PC7b - Cycle link from Clervaux to the Clervaux crossroads (CR339)
• PC32 - Cycle path between Strassen and Bambësch (via landfill)

Opening in 2024/2025:

• PC27 - Cycle path between Cents and the ‘Irrgaertchen’ roundabout
• PC1 - Cycle path between Cloche d'Or and Howald: cycle path along the tramway
• PC7b - Cycle link to the Clervaux crossroads at the northern entrance to Clervaux
• PC8 - Cycle link between the ‘Vëlodukt’ and Esch/Centre via Boulevard Prince Henri
• PC3 - Bollendorf-Pont: dedicated cycle lane along the river Sûre
• PC22 - between Groësteen and Niklosbierg/Fouhren: dedicated cycle lane along the CR322

Finally, the Minister presented the project for red surfacing of cycle lanes and suggestive lanes with the aim of informing cyclists and motorists in a more intuitive way of the place of cycling on the roadways in question. A recent survey (Ilres 2023) revealed that 80% of cyclists and 71% of motorists would be in favour of red surfacing for surfaces dedicated to cycle traffic, to distinguish them from those dedicated to motorised traffic. This type of arrangement, which has been very successful in the Netherlands since the 1980s, is currently being studied by the Luxembourg Roads and Bridges Administration to determine the first concrete locations for this project.

Press release by the Ministry of Mobility and Public Works / Ministry of the Economy