| Artxibo OCR | ECF EuroVelo
Newsletter 2011/5
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EuroVeLo
the European cycle route network
EUROPEAN CYCLISTS' FEDERATION
European Tourism Policy and central
EuroVelo coordination
All Routes lead to EuroVelo
Over 10,000 kilometres were added to the EuroVelo network when two new
cycle routes were officially Inaugurated at a EuroVelo workshop held In the
European Parliament In Brussels on the 15th of Septmber. ELI officials,
academics, representatives from tourism agencies, parliamentarians, route
planners and coordinators gathered to discuss a common EuroVelo strategy
to enable the trans-European cycle route network to be completed by 2020.
The two new routes added to the network Include the famous Iron Curtain
Trail (EV13), which spans over 9000 kilometres and crosses 20 countries,
tracing the remnants of the Iron Curtain which divided Europe for almost half
a century. The Rhine Route (EV15) Is also joining the network. It follows the
Rhine River running from Switzerland, via Germany and France to the
Netherlands, treating cycling tourists with spectacular views of castles and
wine yards along the away. Both Itineraries can now be signposted with
EuroVelo signage, bringing the total number of the cycle routes to 14.
Bringing Europe’s vast collection of cycle routes under the one umbrella Is
no easy task, taking extensive cooperation on the International and local
level, requiring a complex understanding of local traffic codes and politics.
But having a unified ELI network of bicycle routes pays dividends. Melanie
Wlcht Matas, who manages the Rhein Route says that EuroVelo branding
has a “huge added value".
“It’s not very easy to market on a trans-national level, but we’re very happy
that this challenge has been taken up," explains Matas, “This network Is just
great to reach all the Important actors"
Michael Cramer, Greens’ MEP from Germany and the brainchild behind the
Iron Curtain Trail’ was keen to highlight the advantages of cycling and cycle
tourism: "We all know that those who’ll master the future know the past. The
Iron Curtain Trail Is a wonderful example of riding amongst history, culture,
politics and nature.”
“Cycle tourism Is not only of ecological Importance,” Cramer explains, “And
when considering that a cycle tourist spends more money a day than a
tourist travelling by car, It Is obvious that cycle tourism Is Important for
economic reasons and especially for local businesses."
To download the Press Release and Presentations visit: http://
www.ecf.com/4594 1
This project is co-financed by the European Union
under the preparatory action "Sustainable Tourism”.
The sole responsibility of this publication lies with the author.
The European Commission is not responsible for any use
that may be made of the information contained therein.
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ECF EuroVelo
Newsletter 2011/5
oh
EuroVeLo
the European cycle route network
EUROPEAN CYCLISTS' FEDERATION
National Co-ordination
EuroVelo
New National EuroVelo Coordinators
Earlier this year the ECF published a call for applications to act as
National EuroVelo Coordination Centres or Coordinators. Although no
deadline was set as such, we did indicate that we would undertake a
review of the situation after the 20th June. The response has been
quite positive and we have received a number of applications from
countries where we did not previously have a National Coordination
Centre or Coordinator. Afteran initial assessment of the applications
received, three of the new applicants have been approved to become
National EuroVelo Coordination Centres and Coordinators. These are:
• Green Tour, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Ecological Movement of Thessaloniki, Greece
• EnverCevko, Turkey
So, congratulations to these three organisations and the ECF looks
forward to working with them in the years to come.
National Coordination Centres
Gusanee on application process
Negotiations are on-going with the other applicants as well as with the
existing National EuroVelo Coordination Centres and Coordinators and
it is hoped that it will be possible to announce many more successful
candidates next month.
Significant infrastructure improvements in Ventspils,
Latvia
Work is currently being undertaken in Ventspils, a city in northwestern
Latvia, to develop cycle infrastructure which will benefit both cycle
tourists as well as local residents. At the start of the year there were 8
km of cycle paths in Ventspils but by December it is hoped that there
will be 22 km in place, with a further 43km being built by 2018. The
project, which is being co-financed by the ELI, will connect the Iron
Curtain Trail (EV13) with the international ferry terminal and with
popular tourist attractions, including the Old Town, the south pier and
the adventure parks on the seaside. In addition, over 800 tourist
information signs are being installed around the city
This project is co-financed by the European Union
under the preparatory action "Sustainable Tourism”.
The sole responsibility of this publication lies with the author.
The European Commission is not responsible for any use
that may be made of the information contained therein.
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HanseMesse
ECF Euro Velo
Newsletter 2011/5
EuroVeio
the European cycle route network
EUROPEAN CYCLISTS' FEDERATION
ECF EuroVeio
General Newsletter 2011/5
Responsible editor
Adam Bodor
EuroVeio Manager
[email protected]
European Cyclists’ Federation asbl
www.ecf.com
Route Development
Transnational Route Development Project Meetings
Each of the three route development projects currently running had
transnational meetings in Germany during June. The partners working on
the northern section of the Iron Curtain Trail (EV13) met in Rostock on 6th /
7th; the partners for the central section met in Magdeburg on 16th / 17th,
whilst the partners for the Pilgrims Route (EV03) met in Bremen on 20th /
21st. At each of the meetings, representatives of the partners provided an
update on progress with their national reports. This included giving
feedback from their national workshops, explaining how much of the route
in their country had been assessed and commenting on the data collection
methods that had been used. In each case a common methodology for the
evaluation of selected routes was agreed and the national representatives
confirmed that, as the national reports were close to being finalised, they
were ready to start working on the national action plans. After all this hard
work, short cycle tours were arranged to give the participants a chance to
stretch their legs and to experience first-hand the cycling infrastructure in
the local area. For example, the tour in Magdeburg included a section of the
Elbe Trail.
Austrian and Slovakian Ministers cycle to Hungary
following endorsement of Danube Region Strategy
On 25 June 2011, the Flungarian Minister for Foreign Affairs, János
Martonyi, met with his Austrian and Slovakian counterparts, Michael
Spindelegger and Mikulás Dzurinda, to mark the endorsement of the
Danube Region Strategy by the European Council. Mr Spindelegger and Mr
Dzurinda had just completed a 30 km joint bicycle tour from Berg (Austria),
via Bratislava, (Slovakia) to meet Mr Martonyi in Rajka (Flungary), a
community located near the Austrian - Flungarian - Slovakian tripoint. This is
where The Rivers Route - EuroVeio 6 meets the Iron Curtain Trail - EV13.
The Danube Region Strategy, which has been a top priority for the
Flungarian ELI Presidency, aims to strengthen the economic and cultural
cooperation amongst the communities located along or near the river. The
Strategy actually makes reference to improving the Danube cycle route,
which forms part of the Rivers Route - EV6.
At the press briefing in Rajka, the ministers made reference to cycling when
pointing out the importance of the human dimensions of the Danube Region
Strategy: “It is a symbolic and remarkable human value that today one can
cross state borders freely, even when riding a bike. We must appreciate
that,” Mr Spindelegger told the Flungarian News Agency MTI.
Contact
If you have relevant news for upcoming EuroVeio newsletters, please
contact the Euro Velo Manager, Adam Bodor. (E-mail: [email protected]).
EUROPEAN CYCLISTS' FEDERATION
Link to DG ENTR
http://ec.euroDa.eu/enterDrise/tourism/
index en.htm
This project is co-financed by the European Union
under the preparatory action "Sustainable Tourism”.
The sole responsibility of this publication lies with the author.
The European Commission is not responsible for any use
that may be made of the information contained therein.
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