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Ciclovie, 110,000 euros of annual induced for each kilometer

2021-06-19T05:17:41.120Z


(HANDLE) by Stefano Secondino Each euro invested to build a cycle path returns 3.5 to the territory, each kilometer of cycle path generates an annual induced of 110,000 euros for the area crossed. A widespread and well-organized network of cycle paths would yield 2 billion euros a year to the beautiful country, with a minimum environmental impact. These are the most interesting numbers that emerged this m


by Stefano Secondino

Each euro invested to build a cycle path returns 3.5 to the territory, each kilometer of cycle path generates an annual induced of 110,000 euros for the area crossed.

A widespread and well-organized network of cycle paths would yield 2 billion euros a year to the beautiful country, with a minimum environmental impact.

These are the most interesting numbers that emerged this morning at a webinar on cycle tourism by Fiab, the Italian federation of cycling associations.


Bicycle tourism is still a rare reality in Italy. As Carlo Cascione, of the tour operator Activeitaly pointed out, "the pedal tourists in our country are mainly foreigners, from Northern Europe and the United States". But the phenomenon is also growing in us, and the bicycle boom caused by lockdowns (+ 20% of cyclists in 2020 compared to the previous year) can only reflect on cycle tourism. Last year, visits to the bicitalia.org site, which offers cycling itineraries, increased by 84%.


Moreover, the government since last year has begun to allocate hundreds of millions of euros to create cycle paths (ie extra-urban cycling routes) and city cycle paths, with ministerial decrees and with the latest budget law. Other resources have been provided with the Recovery Plan. The problem now will be to spend this money. "Many Regions have not yet used the funds allocated in recent years for cycle paths", noted Antonio Dalla Venezia of Fiab.


Not to mention the 2/2018 law on cycling: it provides a series of national plans for bikes that have never even been put on paper.


However, there are projects for cycling tourism, and there are many. The main one is that of the 10 national cycle routes: "Six thousand kilometers that cross all of Italy - explained Riccardo Capecchi, expert of the Ministry of Infrastructures -. The goal is to achieve them within the terms of the NRR (5 years, ed)". Another resource are the 5,000 kilometers of disused railways: 1,055 have already been transformed into cycle paths, the others are still a heritage to be exploited.


Then there is the SIC2SIC project, which Ispra (the research institute of the Ministry of Ecological Transition) is working on: a cycle link through the Natura 2000 network, that is, the areas protected by the EU. Agostino Agostinelli of Federparchi explained that his organization is working on a cycle route that connects the protected areas. "The bike can facilitate the correct use of landscape and natural resources", noted Dante Caserta of the WWF.


But what are the concrete advantages of cycle tourism for the territories, beyond the fact that bikes do not pollute? "Above all, the enhancement of minor places - explains Carlo Cascione of ActiveItaly -. Rural Italy, a heritage far from mass tourist routes. We bring cyclists to taste tastings, to discover local producers and small receptive structures. cycling tourism takes place in spring and autumn, and allows you to extend the season ".

Source: ansa

All life articles on 2021-06-19

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