Investments in Cycling Infrastructure through the Special Program "City and Country"

Municipalities and municipal associations in Rhineland-Palatinate could receive grants under this program for investments in cycling infrastructure. The aim was to create a safe and continuous cycling system and encourage the shift from motor vehicles to bicycles, thereby contributing to climate and environmental protection.

Investments in cycling infrastructure were funded, including the new construction, modification, and expansion of cycle paths, cycle streets, cycle bridges, and bicycle parking garages. Operational measures to optimize traffic flow and the creation of cycling concepts that led to investment measures were also eligible. The program emphasized the importance for commuting and everyday traffic and excluded purely tourist projects.

The program offered non-repayable grants as co-financing. The standard funding rate was up to 75% of eligible expenses, with an increased rate of up to 90% for financially weak municipalities. The funded infrastructure had to be used for its intended purpose for 10 to 25 years, depending on the type of project.

Important conditions had to be met for funding, including flawless construction and traffic planning, economic efficiency, a dedicated traffic significance for commuting or everyday traffic, and integration into a cycling concept. The project must not have started at the time of application. Furthermore, permanent operational safety, accessibility, and consideration of the needs of people with disabilities and different genders had to be ensured.

The application for the "City and Country" funding program had to be submitted to the Rhineland-Palatinate State Mobility Agency (LBM) before the start of the project. Comprehensive documents, such as explanatory reports, cost calculations, and financing plans, had to be enclosed with the application. The approving authority, the LBM, made decisions on funding at its dutiful discretion and within the framework of available budget funds. The necessary information and forms were provided on the LBM's website.

The legal basis for this funding program was the administrative regulation of the Ministry of Economy, Transport, Agriculture and Viticulture Rhineland-Palatinate. This implemented the administrative agreement "Special Program City and Country" between the federal government and the states and integrated the program into the federal government's Climate Protection Program 2030. In addition, the State Budget Ordinance and the associated administrative regulations applied.