“The updated recommendations must be effective, based on real practice and enable citizens to move freely. Investments in the development of pedestrian and cycle paths will have to be directed at target areas not only according to the national map, but also taking into account the latest design principles in accordance with the modern standards,” said Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Agnė Vaiciukevičiūtė after a meeting with representatives of the ministry of transport of the Netherlands in the Hague.
According to the Deputy Minister, Dutch experts will participate in the process of preparing the Lithuanian guidelines. Therefore, this visit is part of an extensive development plan and preparations to make a map of pedestrian and cycle paths. Among the participants of the meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Lithuania were European Commission’s Coordinator for Road Safety Matthew Baldwin, Executive Director of the European Transport Safety Council Antonio Avenoso and representatives of the ministry of transport of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
“The new development plan of cycle paths in Lithuania will promote systems of a seamless cycle path network, integrating them with rail, water and road transport into a unified system, and will aim to ensure the safety of cyclists and pedestrians. We feel great support from the European Commission for the processes being initiated. We hope that international experts will assist us in implementing successful practices in Lithuania and avoiding mistakes,” noted Vaiciukevičiūtė.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications aims to solve the issue of speeding, implement a safe infrastructure, improve data collection, ensure the safety of pedestrians and cyclists in urban areas. There is currently no special scheme of cycle paths approved at national level in Lithuania, that is why the development of cycle paths is uncoordinated, connections are missing between existing sections of cycle paths, compulsory traffic safety requirements and characteristics of the territories the paths cross are not always observed during design and construction works.
Lithuania is participating in a 3-year European Union project for sharing practices. During the project, experts from 12 countries – Ireland, Austria, Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, Lithuania, Poland, the Netherlands, Portugal, France, Romania and Sweden – are working together by sharing good practices, helping each other find solutions to achieve similar results in their countries.
