ITALY (eTN) – It’s called EuroVelo8, and it is what is being planned as THE bike path in the Mediterranean. This is a European project co-funded by the European Commission and winner of the EU Commission called “Transnational Tourism Products to Increase the Competitiveness and Sustainability of European Tourism” of the former CIP program, now turned into Cosme. The cycle path runs for about 5,900 kilometers, starting from Cadiz, Spain, on its way to Cyprus, after passing through many countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea.
The presentation of the project, held at the headquarters of ENIT, Rome, was attended by the Special Commissioner of ENIT, Cristiano Radaelli, who stressed the economic importance of cycling involving tens of millions of fans in Europe alone. Also present were the President of the Province of Mantua, Alexander Mull, and the President of Fiab, Giuliano Pasticci, who introduced the problem of the adaptation and the new construction of the necessary infrastructure vital to the viability of the project.
Paolo Pileri, Developer and Project Manager of Ven-to, the ridge of the bicycle tour along the river Po, revealed that this segment has changed over the years, to become a formidable work of architecture, design, and engineering. To conclude, Vania Virgili, Advisor to the funds of the community, Mibact, showed the presence of direct and indirect European funds (those managed by the regional institutions) that are valuable opportunities to look deeper into this matter.
Eleven countries involved
EuroVelo8, is one of the 14 cycling routes included in the project, with central EuroVelo spread across the whole of Europe for more than 70 thousand kilometers. In the details, EuroVelo8 is a process also involving Italy, crossing 10 others countries, including Spain, France, Monaco, Slovenia, Croatia, and Greece.
Italy is concerned with the length of 965 kilometers, with the role of the leader of the project resting with the Province of Mantua, the Province of Ferrara, and the Piedmont region.
The objectives of this project includes the enhancement and promotion of tourism products in Europe that contribute to the development of a type of sustainable tourism from an economic, environmental, and social point of view. The second priority is to connect destinations at a transnational level, through bike paths that have the key role to make known and discover to the participants the unique culinary traditions, artistic and cultural heritage, and landscapes of these countries.
Fully shared by the participants attending the presentation is the fact that there is a need in Italy to give concrete solutions to four key steps for the realization of this ambitious project of cycling: the intermodal, complementary services, hospitality, and road signposts.
Upon completion, it will likely become an item for bucket lists of travelers and bikers.
www.eurovelo.org
