Velo.Info’s Cycling Planning Tool identifies nineteen fundamental components /benchmarks necessary for successful Cycling Planning. These components are grouped into four phases. Each of the components has a detailed definition provided and different performance levels for each component are described.

Having assessed themselves using this five point scale on each of the nineteen components, cities can then see what their overall performance has been as well as their performance in each of the Phases. Cities can also see their performance compared with the average performance of other cities, either all cities who have entered data so far or a subset based on cities of a similar size or density.

The 19 nineteen fundamental components /benchmarks necessary for successful Cycling Planning and their phases are:

• Preparing the policy
  • Background Information
  • Consultation
  • Partnership Building
  • Political Leadership
  • Policy Framework
• Planning the policy
  • Develop Action Plan
  • Define Communication and Marketing Plan
  • Timetable
  • Secure Funding
  • Consultation
• Implementation of the policy
  • Staff Structure
  • Staff Training
  • Tools
  • Project Delivery
  • Partnership Maintenance
• Monitoring & Evaluation of the policy
  • Monitoring
  • Evaluate Action Plan
  • Reporting
  • Review Action Plan

Information Collection

A database of more detailed activity is included within the Velo.Info site to allow cities to contribute information and access details of other cities’ activity. The database consists of core information, which is shared with the Bicycle Planning Framework and which consists of basic information:

• Name of city
• Source of information
• Country of city
• Population of city
• Size of city (km2)
• Modal split of city

This information is the minimum baseline which allows a city to be present in the database. Further information can be submitted in a range of topic areas. These are:

• Cycle Security
• Cycle Safety
• Cycle Promotion
• Cycle Policy
• Cycling Funding
• Cycling Maintenance and Monitoring
• Cycle Training
• Cycling and Public Transport
• Cycling to Work/School
• Cycling Personnel
• Cycling Provision

Cities are invited to submit information on their performance and activity in each of these topic areas. The database structure has been based on that of a range of existing benchmarking initiatives.