The counter-proposal is to be discussed in parliament in the fall session together with the clearer and more binding bicycle initiative. The Bicycle Initiative Association welcomes this move by the Federal Council. Its counter-proposal at least partially addresses the concerns of the initiative.

"Unfortunately, the counter-proposal weakens the initiative with an optional formulation," explains Evi Allemann, Vice President of the sponsoring association. "But with this step, the state government is recognizing that the bicycle can do a lot for the general public as a cost-effective, health-promoting and environmentally friendly vehicle."The Bicycle Initiative Association is now calling on parliamentarians to recognize the potential of cycling for the future of an economically strong Switzerland with an intact environment, alleviated traffic problems and a healthy population and to support the initiative and counter-proposal in their current form.The cycling initiative aims to strengthen cycling throughout the country. What already applies to footpaths and hiking trails today should also be possible for cycle paths: The initiative offers the opportunity to promote cycling uniformly and across municipal and cantonal borders, thus creating a continuous network of paths.

To this end, "cycling" is to be added to Article 88 of the Federal Constitution "to promote walking and hiking". This gives the federal government the authority to define the framework conditions for promoting cycling and to support the cantons and municipalities in implementing them. The cycling initiative is supported by organizations from the fields of education, health, sport, transport, the economy and the environment, as well as parliamentarians from all political camps.

(Source: press release)

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