This PIARC Special Project addresses a somewhat overlooked theme; “interurban cycling infrastructure”, that may hold the key to mitigate some of these challenges. We believe that bicycling - often in combination with other means of transportation - has great potential to replace a substantial number of short and mid-range car trips as bicycles are by far the most eco-friendly way of transportation, alongside walking.

Investments in active transport modes such as cycling can bring significant benefits to people, communities and ultimately the planet via lower emissions, easier commutes, better health outcomes, improved road safety, better opportunities for social interaction and much more. Some of those elements are examined and unfolded in this special project.

Transforming cities, rural landscapes, roads, and old habits from a car-centric and (combustion) engine focused practice into a bike-friendly transportation culture is, despite the many good reasons for doing so, not easy at all. The case studies and interviews, we have conducted in this Special Project show, that although traffic planners, politicians, NGOs, local and national governments, and super-national entities support and fund ambitious projects, such as the EuroVelo bike routes in Europe or the Route Vertes in Canada or the many recreational pathways in China, USA and Australia, the challenges often overcome the solutions - one of the greatest being budget allocation.

This special project looks at Interurban cycling infrastructure from a global perspective covering both Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) and High Income Countries (HICs). We have conducted 10 in-depth case studies, highlighting goals, challenges, solutions and benefits for a given project in a given country.

In combination with a general study of a series of other cases (“light cases”), projects, big data and literature, these 10 cases constitute the platform for our findings and recommendations for all stakeholders to interurban bicycle infrastructure. A special section speaks to the specific needs for LMIC countries.