Cycling gains more attention within the country. The new positive climate has been a good platform for introducing new development cycling initiatives in the Czech Republic.

On one hand investigating of development opportunities for local cycling is a mission for municipalities. On the other hand it is the state government which can play the key active role in the process.

The Transport Research Centre (CDV) supported by the Czech Ministry of Transport elaborates the Cycling Development Strategy focused on four activity fields: 1. Integrating of cycling into the state and regional policies 2. Preparing database of successful measures. 3. Providing guidelines to local governments and relevant organisations in the Czech Republic (cycle transport and cycle tourism development measures). 4. Adequate unified promotion of cycling, and cycle tourism products.

The strategy addresses the large public and has a two-fold main objective: to encourage bicycle use as an alternative environment-friendly way of travelling and to establish suitable conditions for construction of cycle paths.

Implementation of the Czech strategy comes in the right time as it

• brings the concrete answer for general thesis supporting the cycling transport, international agreements, the Czech governmental resolutions,
• applies foreign and inland experiences and
• takes advantage from the time and opportunities working in its favour.

The National Cycling Development Strategy presents visions of how the Czech Republic could change within few years.

To put the strategic objectives in life it is necessary to have a set of demonstration projects.

Demonstration projects are split-up in two branches:

1. Geographic projects

As examples - the Morava Cycle Path, the Amber Cycle Route can be mentioned within the category of long-distance routes. As for the pilot experiences cycling development in whole regions, Central Moravian and Southern Moravian projects bring results. Going more deeply into local level, some of demonstration projects have been introduced within micro-regions. To motivate cities, also some municipal pilot projects are shown.

2. Theme pilot projects

As each region has different conditions, the regional development representatives can choose relevant possibilities from a set of applicable projects: the project model "River", "Cycle tourist region", "Ride and Bike", "Regional pearls" etc.

All of the demonstration projects

• offer environmental, cultural and health benefits and
• bring development of tourism and transport network,
• support the healthy life-style,
• teach cooperation (e.g. municipalities associate to achieve the same goal),
• involve as many bodies as possible - regional governments + municipalities + cycling organisations + foundations + private sector
• coordinate promotion of cycle products,
• show new alternatives for development of entrepreneurial activities
• develop the variability range of funding.