Ministry for Regional Development Unveils Cycling Vision 2030

The plan focuses primarily on improving connections between towns and municipalities with extended powers, and on supporting the daily use of bicycles as a full-fledged mode of transport.

“In the Czech Republic, we have around 5,300 kilometers of long-distance bike routes and 5,000 kilometers of cyclepaths. But this network — including its signage — still largely reflects the early 2000s, when it was designed mostly for tourism. That’s no longer sufficient. Our ambition is to connect all municipalities with extended powers through a safe transport network suitable for cyclists. The new methodology introduces concrete steps for how to gradually build that network,” said Minister for Regional Development Petr Kulhánek (STAN).

Coordination between municipalities, regions, and the state

Unlike previous strategies, the Cycling Vision 2030 relies on more detailed coordination between all levels of public administration — from the national government to regional authorities and local municipalities. A practical tool supporting this effort is an online mapping portal, which displays the current state of cycling infrastructure in each region and also enables future planning. The data comes from OpenStreetMap, as well as from local and regional sources, and is intended not only for route documentation, but also as a basis for spatial planning, signage, and funding.

Each region’s cycle coordinator — or the Ministry for Regional Development — is responsible for managing the map portal. For example, the Olomouc Region uses it to catalog its current cycling infrastructure network, while other regions apply it primarily for reviewing existing bike routes. Some regions have stated that they prefer to continue updating their own geographic information systems (GIS). National coordination of the initiative has been entrusted to Jaroslav Martínek, the Czech Republic’s national cycling coordinator.

Mapping portal aims to improve coordination

One of the major benefits of the new portal is the ability to take cycling infrastructure into account during the planning of other construction projects — such as railway corridors or motorways. Currently, bike routes are often interrupted by large-scale transport projects, without any prior consideration for maintaining their continuity. The Cycling Vision therefore seeks to integrate cycling planning with agencies like the Road and Motorway Directorate (ŘSD) and the Railway Administration (SŽ) to help prevent the creation of new barriers.

The strategy includes plans for micro-regional cycling coordinators, who will operate within municipalities with extended powers (ORP). These coordinators will be connected to mayors and local governments, understand the specifics of their areas, and ensure the flow of cycling-related information among all regional stakeholders.

At the national level, the Cycling Vision is backed by substantial funding: in the current EU programming period (2021–2027), CZK 6.6 billion has been allocated to cycling infrastructure, with an additional over CZK 3 billion going toward intermodal transport terminals and parking systems. The ministry also continues to support cycle route signage, such as this year’s CZK 11.7 million grant to the Czech Tourist Club (KČT).

Resignage of bike routes

The strategy also includes the gradual renumbering and resignage of bike routes to better align with the new planning methodology and the hierarchy of the cycling network. The new guide from the Ministry for Regional Development (MMR) emphasizes not only comfort but, above all, safety — particularly for beginning cyclists and children, who require separated and protected routes. The guide was developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Agriculture.

The success of the Cycling Vision 2030 will largely depend on how well it is implemented at the local level — where everyday cycling truly begins.