Izmir Metropolitan Municipality hosted the 'European Bicycle Route Network Workshop'. Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Speaking at the opening Secretary General Gokce, to participate in EuroVelo tourism and recalling that an important element in sustainable urban targets, "it Turkey from being succeeds in Izmir, is a result of our pioneering role," he said.
The 'European Bicycle Route Network Workshop', organized with the cooperation of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and National EuroVelo Coordinator Energy Efficiency and Environmental Protection Association, was held in Fair Izmir. The workshop included representatives from the International Cyclists Federation (ECF - European Cyclists' Federation), as well as many participants from Belgium, Greece and Denmark. During the workshop, where the marking, road works and infrastructure arrangements were also discussed, along with the technical, marketing and promotion activities that İzmir did and will do to be included in the EuroVelo Mediterranean Route, the commitment of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality was underlined.
Both tourism and sustainability
Making the opening speech of the European Bicycle Route Network Workshop, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Secretary General Dr. Mr. Grant Gokce, the country's most western end of the city as a leading model in Turkey and Izmir, a comprehensive policy for the development of tourism said they had implemented. Reminding that they are trying to increase the share of the bike in the city in parallel with these studies, Gökçe said, “We know that being part of the EuroVelo network has both tourism and sustainability value. It is of great importance for us to be on this line, starting from the ocean shores to Greece. That in Turkey, Izmir is carrying, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality is pioneering role. There are many elements that European nature and history enthusiasts will be curious about in Izmir. Our participation in this network will provide both accommodation and daily tourism. This network is an important initiative for European integration. We are very happy with this. ”
Participating in the workshop, Mayor of Cesme Muhittin Dalgıç expressed his thanks for the works of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and stated that they will take part in these works.
International Workshop
During the workshop, Vice President of the International Federation of Cyclists, William Nederpelt, made a presentation titled "EuroVelo is More than Riding a Bicycle". Özlem Taşkın Erten 'İzmir's EuroVelo Experience, Limburg Tourism Director Ward Segers' Limburg Bicycle Points Network, EuroVelo Founder Jens Erik Lansen 'From Past to Future EuroVelo', EuroVelo Greek National Coordinator Spiros Papageorgiou EuroVelo Greece National Coordinator Spiros Papageorgiou EuroVelo Greece National Coordinator Spiros Papageorgiou also made a presentation on “Capturing Opportunities by Connecting People and Cultures”.
What is EuroVelo?
EuroVelo is a sustainable alternative tourism model supported by the European Parliament Tourism and Transport committee. It covers 70 long-distance bicycle routes, planned over 45 thousand km and completed 15 thousand km in Europe. EuroVelo bicycle routes support the prestige of the cities in the countries it passes and the development of the socio-economic structure. ECF, headquartered in Brussels, is run by the European Federation of Cyclists.
We will take the Mediterranean Route
“EuroVelo 15 Mediterranean Route”, which is one of the 8 long road cycling routes of EuroVelo and which Izmir has applied for membership, starts from Spain. It continues through France, Monoco, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania and passes through 11 countries, Greece and Cyprus. There are 23 world heritage sites and 712 fish species unique to the Aegean Region on the route. With the addition of İzmir to this network, the list is expected to get richer.
Over two lines
Taking important steps for the development of tourism in İzmir, Metropolitan Municipality has carried out important works since 2016 to join the EuroVelo Bicycle Route Network. While the participation of the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, which applied for the EuroVelo 15 Mediterranean route, which is suitable for İzmir from 8 different routes to the European Federation of Cyclists (ECF), was approved in the same year, it was reported that membership acceptance is expected to take place in January 2019.
Starting from the city of Kadiz in Spain, in Athens, Greece and also in Cyprus, the 5888-kilometer network of cycling routes in the East-West direction will increase to 6379 kilometers with the addition of İzmir. Izmir, including the EuroVelo will be the first city in Turkey. Bicycle tourists, who are on the extension of the EuroVelo 8 Mediterranean Route and want to come to İzmir, can pass by sea from Chios to Cesme or from Lesbos island to Dikili and via Bergili, Aliaga, Foça, Sasali, Urla, Cesme, Alacati and It will reach Seferihisar and Selçuk via Gümüldür. This network, which will connect the districts of Bergama and Selçuk, which are on the UNESCO World Heritage List, will be 491 kilometers long. European Cyclists Federation (ECF), after the completion of the necessary preparations Turkey route on the route in 2019 as EuroVelo will add to the picture.
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