Overview
BYPAD (Bicycle policy audit) is an instrument for the evaluation of local and regional cycling policy and improvement of its quality. BYPAD has been developed, applied and continuously improved since 1999, with support from the European Commission. Meanwhile more than 100 cities and regions in 20 European countries are evaluating and improving their cycling policy, supervised by 34 certified auditors from these countries. BYPAD has become a European quality standard for cycling policy and a vital European network.
The entire quality chain consists of 9 modules which all together ensure a balanced cycling policy. Every module obtains a separate quality score. Together they reflect the quality level of the cycling policy in a town, city or region. Based on this quality score a bicycle action plan is prepared.
BYPAD considers cycling policy as a dynamic process, a whole of 9 fields, in permanent development, influencing each other.
- BYPAD is a flexible tool and can be implemented in towns, cities & agglomerations and regions.
- BYPAD has already been carried out by over 100 cities and regions in 22 countries.
- 55 BYPAD auditors from 22 different EU countries have been trained and certified in order to guide the towns, cities and regions to implement BYPAD. Check the website for the contact details of the national auditors.
- After the implementation of the audit all cities and regions receive from their national auditor the official BYPAD certificate together with a bicycle action plan.
- Examples of good practices are exchanged and spread through the good-practise database and/or the BYPAD-newsletter.
- BYPAD regional workshops and international seminars ensure regular and intensive exchange of information between the BYPAD auditors, towns, cities and regions and all those active/interested in the field of cycling policy.
- As a BYPAD member, you are able to view short presentations, materials and results provided by other BYPAD cities and regions, make comparisons and participate in forum discussions at any time in your own member's area.
Funding
Results
Improving the quality of cycling policy determines goals for future years.
- Mark BYPAD - in the ending of audit proces BYPAD the city will receive the mark which will introduce the appreciation of quality of regional cycling policy and also mark about BYPAD graduation. This mark is also certificate a that the city actively goals for improvement of cycling policy.
- Web page BYPAD introduces forum where the cities can mutualy learn from their own experiences
- Regional workshop BYPAD - forum for intensive exchange of experiences among audited cities and report which summarises experiences from BYPAD for the other cities
Technical Implications
- BYPAD is a flexible tool and can be implemented in towns, cities & agglomerations and regions;
- BYPAD has already been carried out by over 100 cities and regions in 22 countries;
- 55 BYPAD auditors from 22 different EU countries have been trained and certified in order to guide the towns, cities and regions to implement BYPAD. Check the website for the contact details of the national auditors;
- After the implementation of the audit all cities and regions receive from their national auditor the official BYPAD certificate together with a bicycle action plan;
- Examples of good practices are exchanged and spread through the good-practise database and/or the BYPAD-newsletter;
- BYPAD regional workshops and international seminars ensure regular and intensive exchange of information between the BYPAD auditors, towns, cities and regions and all those active/interested in the field of cycling policy;
- As a BYPAD member, you are able to view short presentations, materials and results provided by other BYPAD cities and regions, make comparisons and participate in forum discussions at any time in your own member's area.
Policy implications
Increase quality
Even good things can be improved. BYPAD provides an in-depth analysis of the current status of your cycling policy. The method is simple: politicians, civil servants and user groups each fill in a detailed questionnaire which provides insight into different views on the state of development in various areas of the local cycling policy. Controversial viewpoints are then discussed in a moderated process, guided by the neutral national auditor. The goal is to come to a collective assessment of the questions and to derive quality aims and measures for the future on the basis of the assessment results. In this self-evaluation process all actors play an active role.
Ensure quality
A high level of quality must become standard. As part of the BYPAD audits, the participants develop a quality plan which defines the aims of cycling policy for the next years. Regular repetitions of the audit shows the evolution of the cycling policy and at the same time ensures sustainable improvements.
Certify quality
Responsible policy-making is rewarded. After completion of the BYPAD audit, the town, city or region receives the BYPAD quality label and the BYPAD certificate. Both confirm the active commitment of political decision-makers, administrative bodies and citizens to a modern, high-quality cycling policy.
Compare quality
BYPAD is a high-quality product, therefore, allow only certified BYPAD auditors to conduct the audit. A network of trained and certified auditors has been set up to guide the implementation process . Local and regional authorities will then also benefit from the full range of BYPAD services - from regular information to the ability to exchange and compare experiences with other towns, cities or regions on regional workshops and international seminars.