EuroVelo

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frame|right|Map_of_EuroVelo_bicycle_routes_[http://www.ecf.com/misc/filePush.php?mimeType=application/pdf&fullPath=http://www.ecf.com/files/2/8/EuroVelo_map2007.pdf Pdf] ]

"EuroVelo", the European cycle route network, is a project of the European Cyclists' Federation to develop 12 long-distance cycle routes crossing Europe. The total length is 60,000 km, of which more than 20,000 km are in place.

The EuroVelo routes are similar, in length and conception, to Greenway projects such as the East Coast Greenway in the United States and the Trans-Canada Trail.

EuroVelo routes are intended for bicycle touring across the continent, though they are also used locally. The routes are made of both existing bike paths and roads together with proposed and planned cycle routes to connect them. All the routes are unfinished.

EuroVelo hopes to get European Union support.

For a route to be part of EuroVelo it must:
* have no gradient above 6%
* be wide enough for two cyclists
* have an average of no more than 1,000 motorised vehicles a day
* be sealed for 80% of its length
* be open 365 days a year, have provision points every 30km, accommodation every 50km, and public transport every 150km. [ [http://www.orbea.com/en-gb/informateyparticipa/Reportajes/Pages/20080416_Eurovelo.aspx Orbea — EuroVelo: Cycling Around Europe] ]

EuroVelo routes

North-South

:EV 1 - "Atlantic Coast Route": North Cape - Sagres 8,186 km:EV 3 - "Pilgrims Route": Trondheim - Santiago de Compostela 5,122 km:EV 5 - "Via Romea Francigena": London - Rome and Brindisi 3,900 km:EV 7 - "Middle Europe Route": North Cape - Malta 6,000 km:EV 9 - "Baltic Sea to Adriatic Sea" (Amber Route): Gdańsk - Pula 1,930 km:EV 11 - "East Europe Route": North Cape - Athens 5,964 km

West-East

:EV 2 - "Capitals Route": Galway - Moscow 5,500 km:EV 4 - Roscoff - Kyiv 4,000 km:EV 6 - "Atlantic Ocean to Black Sea" (Rivers Route): Nantes - Constanţa 3,653 km - [http://www.eurovelo6.org] :EV 8 - "Mediterranean Route": Cádiz - Athens 5,388 km

Circuits

:EV 10 - "Baltic Sea Cycle Route" (Hansa circuit): 7,930 km:EV 12 - "North Sea Cycle Route": 5,932 km

Total network: 63,505 km

EuroVelo's aims and administration

The aim of EuroVelo is to encourage people to try cycling instead of driving. Although some will cycle across the continent, most journeys will be local.

Development is by national, regional and local governments and NGOs in all European countries. The international status helps in funds and political support for construction. Only routes approved by the EuroVelo route coordinator can call themselves EuroVelo.

Main points on the EuroVelo routes

Route commentaries, information and links

EuroVelo 1

EuroVelo 2

Between The Hague and the German-Polish border EV2 follows Euro-Route R1, an international cycle path connecting Boulogne-sur-Mer with St Petersburg.

* [http://www.euroroute-r1.de Euro-Route R1]

EuroVelo 3

EuroVelo 3 is "The Pilgrim's Route". It goes from Trondheim in Norway to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. The route follows traces of old roads used for pilgrimages in the Middle Ages. The route passes through Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, France and Spain. Most of these countries have a developed net of bicycle routes used as part of EV3.

* [http://www.friefugle.dk/cyeufraprofil.htm The Frie Fugle]

EuroVelo 4

EuroVelo 5

This route is also a pilgrim route although not used as much as the Santiago route. It is called the Via Francigena and was first recorded by Archbishop Sigeric in the 10th century AD. It has recently been awarded EU funds to reinstate hostelry organisation and for route improvement. There is a supporters' group in several countries and route maps, and Santiago-style passports for stamping at abbeys and cathedrals. The route goes from London to Brindisi through Rome and via the St Bernard's pass in Switzerland.

EuroVelo 6

EuroVelo 6 is the "Rivers Route". It runs from Nantes on the mouth of the Loire, along the river eastward through France. It continues on to Lake Constance in Switzerland and then down the Danube through Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania to the UNESCO Heritage site of the Danube Delta, and ends in Constanţa, on the Black Sea. EV6 includes the Donauradweg, the bicycle path along the Danube; this stretches from Passau in Germany through Austria to Vienna and continues on to Bratislava in Slovakia.

* [http://www.eurovelo6.org EuroVelo 6, in Deutsch and French and English]

EuroVelo 7

Here is a pdf of the current state of Eurovelo 7 [http://www.friefugle.dk/Eurovelo_rute_7.pdf]

EuroVelo 8

EuroVelo 9

EuroVelo 9, the "Amber Route", runs from Gdańsk on the Baltic Sea in Poland through the Czech Republic to Austria and on to Slovenia and finishes at Pula on the Adriatic Sea in Croatia. The Austrian part of the EV9 will be completed by summer or autumn 2004.
* [http://www.niederoesterreich.at/weinviertel/default.asp?medium=EX_WEV&sprache=d&id=16452&tt=EX_WEV_R2 Radeln im Weinviertel]
* [http://www.niederoesterreich.at/rad/default.asp?id=15580&thema= Radrouten Niederösterreich - EuroVelo 9]

EuroVelo 10

EuroVelo 11

EuroVelo 12

EuroVelo 12, the [http://www.northsea-cycle.com North Sea Cycle Route] , was the first European route, opened in June 2001, 6,000km route through England, Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. It features in the "Guinness Book of Records" as the longest unbroken signposted cycling route. The second phase of European Union funding through the Interreg initiative came to a close in December 2006.

External links

* [http://www.eurovelo.org EuroVelo — European Cycle Route Network]
* [http://www.ecf.com ECF European Cyclists' Federation]
* [http://www.orbea.com/en-gb/informateyparticipa/Reportajes/Pages/20080416_Eurovelo.aspx Orbea — EuroVelo: Cycling Around Europe]

References