Pilot Bicycle Routes are Created to Diversify Tourism in the Black Sea

TR81 Western Black Sea Region (Zonguldak, Karabük and Bartın) and TR82 Northern Anatolia Region (Kastamonu, Çankırı and Sinop) in cooperation with the Western Black Sea Development Agency (BAKKA) and the Northern Anatolia Development Agency (KUZKA) in order to prioritize sustainable tourism, develop nature sports and diversify tourism. A pilot study was initiated to create bicycle routes with fully prepared infrastructure.

In this direction, a pilot study area was determined between the cities of Karabük, Bartın and Kastamonu in order to increase nature-based individual and collective sports organizations and to make them permanent. Serial meetings were held with local and national stakeholders in order to create different cycling routes in this area, while determinations were made on the method of e-work.

It is aimed to determine bike routes that vary in soil, paths and asphalt in a way that will appeal to different levels of difficulty, connecting many attraction points between the cities of Küre Mountains National Park and its surroundings and Bartın, Karabük and Kastamonu, raising the awareness of cities and city dwellers and preparing the infrastructure. .

Preparing the infrastructure for camps, activities and races in the branches of road biking, mountain biking, triathlon in both regions, increasing the number and quality of cycling and sports festivals, making the region an individual and mass preferred tourism destination and providing economic output from all these activities. It is aimed to determine the development strategies. In addition, it is aimed to carry out the necessary process and process in order for accommodation facilities located close to bicycle routes to have status such as a Bicycle Friendly Hotel.

Approximately 1400 km of asphalt-stabilized and 300 km of soil-forest roads are planned to be introduced to different phone applications (Wikiloc, etc.) first, and then introduced within the scope of programs to be carried out for tour operators.

The study, which is planned to be completed by the end of 2020, is considered to contribute to the development of sports tourism in these regions, diversification of tourism and raising awareness for bicycle transportation in the coming years.