Development of cycling Development of cycling

routes in Estonia routes in Estonia

Bicycle seminar in MinskBicycle seminar in MinskOctober 20October 20thth, 2015, 2015

Rein Lepik,Rein Lepik, President of Vänta Aga Cycling ClubPresident of Vänta Aga Cycling Club

EuroVeloEuroVelo

• 14 routes through Europe• Connect countries and

cities, passing areas of natural beauty, using small quiet roads and paths

• Safety, attractiveness, available services and information

• Certain theme or topic

Estonia as a bicycle Estonia as a bicycle tourism countrytourism country

Development of Development of bicycle routesbicycle routes

• Creating a route

• general idea, investigations, general idea, investigations, comparision of alternatives, best comparision of alternatives, best choiceschoices• map, website, travel guides etcmap, website, travel guides etc• signposting of the routesignposting of the route• repair or reconstruction of the repair or reconstruction of the roads at selected placesroads at selected places• tourism infrastructure (shops, tourism infrastructure (shops, accommodation, food, campsites, accommodation, food, campsites, rest areas etc)rest areas etc)

Estonia as a bicycle Estonia as a bicycle tourism countrytourism country

Planning of local Planning of local bicycle routes bicycle routes

Alatskivi route

In addition: Raplamaa, Jõgevamaa, Valgamaa, Hiiumaa, Muhumaa, Kihnu, Jõhvi piirkond, Pärnumaa,In addition: Raplamaa, Jõgevamaa, Valgamaa, Hiiumaa, Muhumaa, Kihnu, Jõhvi piirkond, Pärnumaa,Võrumaa?, Läänemaa?, Harjumaa? , ( Helme vald) Võrumaa?, Läänemaa?, Harjumaa? , ( Helme vald)

Bicycle routes in Bicycle routes in EstoniaEstonia

• 6 cycling routes passing the country (incl 2 EuroVelo, R1, Iron Curtain 6 cycling routes passing the country (incl 2 EuroVelo, R1, Iron Curtain Cycling Route, Tour de LatEst)Cycling Route, Tour de LatEst)• 9 regional routes9 regional routes• 46 local routes 46 local routes • + ? local routes (not registered)+ ? local routes (not registered)

•Signposted routes 32 (+ 13 (Helme) + ? (forests etc))Signposted routes 32 (+ 13 (Helme) + ? (forests etc))•Maps are existing at most casesMaps are existing at most cases

AttractivenessThe attractions fulfil the needs of the potential

target groups– Excellent – there are special attraction(s)

connected to the topic of the route and/or touristic sight (interesting on international level), the section is placed in cycling friendly environment (forest, wine yard, mosaic landscape use, tidy urban or rural settlements etc.)

Directness The proposed routes have to avoid from useless

detours

Safety• Excellent (3) – Separated bicycle way, bike lanes, forestry or

agricultural road, public road with very low motorized traffic (less than 500 Unit / day) and the crossings are perfect. The section is continuous.

Comfort– Surface of the roads / routes.– Clarity of the signposting, meets to the EV

signposting manual– Density of the rest stations– Conditions of the bicycle transport possibility

(price, capacity)

• Excellent (3). – Solid and very smooth surface (good quality asphalt,

concrete etc.), well maintained shoulders. Possible to ride the route at every weather condition (no mud) during the season.

– Clear and complete signposting according the national and the EuroVelo standards.

– Rest stations at least in every 15 km, providing protection (from sun, rain), sanitary (water, toilet) services.

– The cycling friendly public transport connection is available at least 4 times per day (in both directions) within 20 km. The bike transport possibility is available for bigger groups (more than 4 bikes / vehicle) for a reasonable price without ordering a special wagon, vehicle on regular lines.

Services– Density of the restaurants, pubs, shops

• Excellent (3) – There isn`t any point on the route which is further than 10 km from the closest accommodation, and 5 km from the closest restaurants, pubs, shops. If one of the conditions is not fulfilled it`s only “good”.

- ComfortAvailability of “cycling friendly” labelled service or equal

• Excellent (3) – existing cycling friendly service provider network, with label and QC.

- Price – categoryAvailability of services in every category

Promotion• Excellent - Full range of promotion tools:

webportal, maps, leaflets, events. Yearly updated edition from the printed promotion tools and at least monthly update on the webportal. The promotion tools are attractive and efficient.

Organisation• Responsibility

– For development– For maintenance

• Availability of financial tools• Excellent – Responsible organisations are working on

every field of route development and maintenance (infrastructure, service, promotion) with appropriate budget.

Creating a good system• standards and main principles standards and main principles

for the route developmentfor the route development• the optimal number and the optimal number and

density of the routesdensity of the routes• registration of the routes and registration of the routes and

the overview of the systemthe overview of the system• standards of the signs and rules standards of the signs and rules

where and how to fix the signswhere and how to fix the signs• joint marketingjoint marketing• cooperation with Road cooperation with Road

Administration in the planning Administration in the planning processprocess of road reconstruction of road reconstruction and construction of bicycle and construction of bicycle roadsroads

Bicycle signsBicycle signsSome examples from the world

Maintenance of the route• maintenance of the roads, maintenance of the roads,

traffic calmingtraffic calming• maintenance of the signs maintenance of the signs

systemsystem• maintenance of the tourism maintenance of the tourism

infrastructureinfrastructure• problems with short term problems with short term

projectsprojects• problems with private land problems with private land

ownersowners

Bicycle signsBicycle signs

Problems in Estonia

Bicycle signsBicycle signs

We are the constructors!

More than 300 bicycle signs have got lost during the More than 300 bicycle signs have got lost during the road reconstruction works!road reconstruction works!

Bicycle signsBicycle signsWork of the road construction companies

Bicycle signsBicycle signs

Bicycle signsBicycle signsCreative developments made by the road designersCreative developments made by the road designers

Local Local developmentsdevelopments

Private - public Private - public partnershippartnership

Welcome to Estonia!

Estonia - a land for cyclistsEstonia - a land for cyclists

Estonia - a land for cyclistsEstonia - a land for cyclistsNature trailsNature trails

Estonia - a land for cyclistsEstonia - a land for cyclistsTourism infrastructureTourism infrastructure

Estonia - a land for cyclistsEstonia - a land for cyclists

Welcome to!

Tourism farmTourism farm

Estonia as a Estonia as a country country

of bicycle tourismof bicycle tourism

www.bicycle.ee

Happy Happy cycling!cycling!