EuroVelo is a network of 17 long-distance cycling routes criss-crossing Europe , with 2 more in early construction across various stages of completion. When completed, the EuroVelo network's total length will be almost 60,875 km (37,826 mi). As of 2023 more than 56,000 km (35,000 mi) were in place. EuroVelo is a project of the European Cyclists' Federation (ECF). The multinational project aims to connect 40 countries via the 19 unique routes across the European continent.
31-402: EuroVelo 2 (EV2), named The Capitals Route , is a 5,050 km (3,140 mi) long EuroVelo long-distance cycling route running from Galway , Ireland to Moscow , Russia. This east-west route passes successively through seven countries – Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Belarus and Russia – and visits all their capital cities . The route
62-469: A bike parade. Bringing together all those who are involved in the policy, promotion and provision of cycling, Velo-city conferences usually attract around 1,400 delegates, including cycling advocates, cities , decisionmakers and industry leaders. Velo-city began in 1980 and has played an important part in the promotion of cycling ever since. Since the first Velo-city Global took place in Copenhagen in 2010,
93-722: Is known as the Dublin-Galway Greenway , and is yet to be finalised. The western section of EV2 between Galway and Dublin was scheduled to commence construction between Athlone and Mullingar in 2014, and completed in 2015, along a disused railway line. Portions of the Royal Canal bank between Mullingar and the Westmeath – Meath county boundary have been completed. The section from the county boundary – Dublin section closed public consultation in February 2016 The initial design of
124-533: Is managed by ECF and consists of cities and regions, mainly in Europe, that work to “promote the bicycle as a mode of transport and leisure.” The Cycle-Friendly Employer Certification Framework is a “European standard for cycle friendly companies.” The certification scheme is run by ECF and implemented on the national level by national coordinators. The Scientists for Cycling group works to exchange their knowledge and research in order to improve cycling. The main aims of
155-569: Is set to become the future EuroVelo 16 route by 2028 with a length of 1,896 km. Stretching the length of the continent, from North Cape, Norway to Valença, Portugal , the EV1 connects Norway, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Wales, the West Country of England, France, Spain and Portugal. EV2 runs between Galway, Ireland to Moscow, Russia visiting some capital cities along
186-614: Is the newest and the shortest EuroVelo route. It follows one of the most significant rivers in Europe, from the source of the Meuse on the Langres plateau in France, heading north into Belgium and on to the river mouth at Hook of Holland , with the route ending in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam . The ECF has written a route development manual for those working on developing EuroVelo routes. According to
217-869: The Baltic Sea to the Adriatic Sea . It is so named after the precious stone amber collected in the Baltic, which was taken by routes such as this to the Mediterranean. One of the shortest of the EuroVelo routes, EV9 still manages to cut across Europe from north to south, from Poland to Croatia, and in doing so passes through the Czech Republic, Austria and Slovenia en route. EV10 runs around Baltic Sea . Some of its parts are mapped on OpenStreetMap project Relation: EuroVelo 10 - Baltic Sea Cycle Route - part Sweden (63584) . On
248-657: The EU and European level as well as international fora such as the United Nations Climate Change conference . ECF defines seven policy areas for its advocacy: EuroVelo is a network of 17 long-distance cycle routes that criss-cross Europe . When completed, the total length of the EuroVelo network will be 90,000 km (56,000 mi). As of 2021, more than 51,000 km (31,700 mi) of cycle routes were developed. EuroVelo routes are used by commuters, tourists and recreational cyclists. The EuroVelo network
279-761: The European level and internationally. ECF’s activities include conducting cycling advocacy and research, providing tools and resources, developing the EuroVelo network and organizing the Velo-city conference series. Based in Brussels and founded in 1983, ECF’s slogan is “more and better cycling for all.” In 2013 they founded the World Cycling Alliance . ECF is a legal entity registered under Belgian law as an ASBL ( non-profit organization ). Its statutes are published in
310-645: The Middle Ages . The route passes through Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, France and Spain. Most of these countries have a developed network of bicycle routes used as part of the EV3. The EV4 goes from Roscoff, France to Kyiv, Ukraine , going through France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Czechia, Poland, and Ukraine. The EV5 route is inspired by the Via Francigena , a pilgrimage route from London to Rome first recorded by Archbishop of Canterbury Sigeric in
341-722: The 10th century AD. However, the route of the true Via Francigena is an almost straight line path from London to Rome, while the EuroVelo 5 route takes a more easterly route that passes through Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg in the Alsace . It then follows the Franco-German border, passes through Switzerland following Swiss National Bike Route no. 3, before crossing the Alps at the Gotthard Pass . It then passes through Italy (more closely following Sigeric's route) to Rome before continuing on to
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#1732895684330372-663: The Adriatic port city of Brindisi . Running from Saint-Nazaire on the mouth of the river Loire along that river eastward through France, EV6 passes over the border to Switzerland to Lake Constance and then on to Tuttlingen in Germany, where it begins its way down the Danube following the Donauradweg (Danube Cycle Route). It follows that river, Europe's second longest, through Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania to
403-569: The EV2 exists from the German border to Poznań . The rest is currently in development. In Belarus, it will go through the last great (largely-unchanged) primeval forest in Europe, the Białowieża Forest , and the capital Minsk . In Russia, the EV2 is in the planning stages and will pass through Smolensk on its way to Moscow . EuroVelo EuroVelo routes can be used for bicycle touring across
434-521: The Moniteur Belge of 24 April 1997. ECF states that its vision is to “improve and increase cycling across the whole of Europe.” The organization defines the following main goals for 2030: As one of its primary activities, ECF works to influence legislation in favour of cycling. Apart from raising general awareness around the benefits of cycling , its advocacy involves lobbying and engaging with politicians , policymakers and other stakeholders at
465-767: The UK. In addition, the EuroVelo brand has become widely known. There have been various changes to the network over the years, most notably the addition of two new routes — EuroVelo 13 (the Iron Curtain Trail ) and EuroVelo 15 (the Rhine Cycle Route ) — in September 2011, which are the longest and shortest of the EuroVelo routes. In September 2023, the ECF announced that the Iberian Cycle route connecting Lisbon with Pamplona via Madrid
496-829: The Welsh capital of Cardiff before crossing the Severn, where it visits the cities of Bristol and Bath – connected by the Bristol and Bath Railway Path . After that it joins the Kennet and Avon Cycle Route ( NCR4 ) along the canal which links the Thames and the Bristol Channel, weaving through scenery on its way from Bath to Reading . At Reading, the route joins the Thames Path Cycle Route on its way to London. Finally it leaves London through
527-515: The annual world cycling summit, is organised by ECF with a different host city every year. Velo-city brings together civil society organizations, cities, academics, experts and the cycling industry to discuss and share the latest ideas and developments from the world of cycling for transport and leisure. Each conference takes place with a particular theme over the course of four days with a programme that consists of plenary sessions, side sessions, an exhibition area, technical visits, social events and
558-662: The conference has taken place in numerous locations: Velo-city 2020 Ljubljana was forced to be postponed to 2022 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic . Because of the pandemic, Velo-city 2021 Lisboa was held with special COVID-19 safety protocols and as a hybrid event with online and digital elements that included live streaming and session recordings within a dedicated mobile app. ECF participates in various EU-funded projects together with other organizations and institutions. ECF manages several international networks, apart from its own members: The Cities & Regions for Cyclists network
589-688: The continent, as well as by local people making short journeys. The routes are made of both existing national bike routes — such as the Dutch LF-Routes , the German D-Routes , the French véloroute "SN3V" and the British National Cycle Network — and existing general purpose roads, together with new stretches of cycle routes to connect them. The idea of creating a network of international cycle routes spanning Europe started in 1995. It
620-594: The current borders between the Czech Republic and both Germany then Austria, the Austrian-Slovak and Austrian-Hungarian borders before following the borders of Romania, the former Yugoslavia , Bulgaria and North Macedonia. It finishes at Rezovo in Bulgaria on the Black Sea after following the border with Greece and Turkey. EV15, with an overall length of about 1,320 km (820 mi) passes through four countries from
651-778: The docklands, travelling north to the ferry port at Harwich . In the Netherlands, the EV2 follows the Dutch National Cycle Routes LF4 and LF8. From The Hague it follows the LF4 to Borculo and then the LF8 to Zwillbrock on the German border. In Germany, the EV2 follows the German Cycling Network 's D-Route 3, which runs 960 km (600 mi) from the Dutch border at Vreden to the Polish one at Küstrin-Kietz . In Poland,
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#1732895684330682-528: The guidelines, all EuroVelo routes should fulfill the following criteria: In 2011 the share of route infrastructure components in the EuroVelo network was as follows: European Cyclists%27 Federation The European Cyclists' Federation ( ECF ) is a non-profit member-based umbrella federation of local, regional and national civil society organizations that promote cycling for both transportation and leisure. ECF has around 70 member organizations across more than 40 countries that it represents at
713-781: The headwaters of the Rhine in Andermatt in the Swiss Alps to the estuary in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, via France and Germany. EV17 has an overall length of about 1,250 km (780 mi). It starts in Andermatt and runs along each side of Lake Geneva before crossing into France. Passing through Lyon and Avignon , it forks into sections which end in Montpellier and Marseille . EV19, with an overall length of about 1,050 km (650 mi),
744-573: The network are: to build a strong academic community doing research on cycling-related topics; to bridge the gap between the research on cycling issues, cycling advocates and decision makers; to disseminate the latest academic publications on cycling; to assist in developing the Velo-city conference program; to build up a more research based approach to cycling advocacy and policy. ECF is a member-based organization with around 70 full and associate members in over 40 countries. The organization claims that it
775-816: The river's mouth at the Danube Delta . It then continues southwards to end in Constanța , on the Black Sea. EV7 runs from the North Cape to Malta . It goes through Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Czechia, Austria, Italy, and Malta. EV8 follows the European coastline of the Mediterranean sea from Cádiz, Spain to Athens, Greece , going through Spain, France, italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus. EV9 (in Poland, also labeled as R9) stretches from
806-524: The state of the route there is an OpenStreetMap wiki page EV11 connects (theoretically) Norway 's North Cape with Athens . EV12 was the first European route, opened in June 2001, 6,000 km (3,700 mi) 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. It
837-656: The way, from Eyre Square to Red Square . Between The Hague in the Netherlands and the German-Polish border, the EV2 follows the bicycle route called European Bicycle Route R1 or Euro-Route R1 , an international long-distance cycling route connecting Boulogne-sur-Mer in France with St Petersburg in Russia. EV3 goes from Trondheim in Norway to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. The route follows traces of old roads used for pilgrimages in
868-679: The westernmost section through Galway and Roscommon has been rejected as substandard and must be redesigned. Note that there is some controversy over the design standard in Ireland overall. In the UK, the EV2 starts at Holyhead on the Isle of Anglesey and travels through the heart of Wales along the National Cycle Network 's NCR8 Lôn Las Cymru , taking in Snowdonia National Park and Brecon Beacons National Park . It passes through
899-690: Was funded in part by the European Union's Interreg initiative. EuV13 follows the old Iron Curtain , the divided borders of Europe during the Cold War . The ICT runs from Kirkenes , Norway on the Barents Sea, along the Finno-Russian border through to the Baltic Sea, then hugs the length of the Baltic coast to Lübeck in Germany. It then follows the old border between West Germany and the former East Germany,
930-505: Was initially coordinated by the ECF , De Frie Fugle (Denmark) and Sustrans (UK) and the original plan was to create 12 long-distance cycling routes . Since August 2007, the ECF has assumed full responsibility for the project. Despite sometimes tight financial constraints, the EuroVelo project has already begun to fulfil the vision of its founders with sections of the network being implemented in countries as far apart as Finland, Cyprus, Spain and
961-522: Was officially launched in Logroño on 21 November 1997, and its first route, the EuroVelo 12 – North Sea Cycle Route, was inaugurated in 2001. EuroVelo is coordinated by ECF, while the development and operation of individual EuroVelo routes is carried out by National EuroVelo Coordination Centres and Coordinators, which are usually NGOs , commercial service providers or national, regional or local governments . The Velo-city conference series, also known as