Cycle tourism in the Egadi

Cycle tourism: a way to live the territories in a sustainable way

Favignana with its 6.500 bicycles for hire for 50 kilometers of white roads and 20 of cycle paths on a mostly flat territory, can be considered one of the most islands “bike friendly” of the Mediterranean.

Its four main itineraries, designed to touch the most significant places of the island and its most famous beaches, they are simple and easy-to-travel routes that can be created in the course of half a day.

Cycle tourism is by definition “tourism practiced by traveling by bicycle”, an alternative way to approach “places and people”, through itinerant trips or day trips, without competitive reasons, along mainly easy routes, on roads with little traffic or reserved for bicycles (cyclopiste).

The tourist offer of cycling tourism is characterized by two elements: the speed of the move and the goal of the move.

Photo © Aurelio Cibien Fiab Bike & Trek

As regards the first aspect, cycling tourism offers, unlike the means of transport traditionally used for travel, a movement at a speed on a human scale. It is, by its nature, slow tourism, meaning how “slowness " also responsible and aware use of tourism resources, but even more importantly sustainable, because it allows you to enjoy the direct relationship with the environment, preserving it.

In the case of cycling tourism therefore, one can no longer speak of a journey which is the sum of one movement and one ”stare” in a certain place but, we could instead say that the “journey coincides with the move”: it indeed allows you to “to live” the paths, appreciating not only the emerging environmental or cultural singularities, but allowing to enter into a deeper contact with the landscape, be it natural or urban, with its culture and tradition.

Photo: © Giorgio De Simone

The character of absolute originality of the cycling tourism proposal is therefore that which replaces the traditional one “tourist destination”, the “route”: the very act of moving in a territory, observing it and “knowing”, staying in a more or less scheduled way for refreshment, the visit or overnight stay, constitutes the heart and essence of the tourist offer.

Cycle tourism can be attributed a double significance: social and cultural and economic. Cycle tourism contributes to increasing the use of bicycles even in daily commuting, thus becoming a means of spreading virtuous behavior. It also enhances the areas crossed, even those marginal with respect to mass tourist migrations, exerting positive effects on local economies and favoring the birth of new business initiatives.

The bicycle can therefore be considered an imposing tool to reduce emissions and promote sustainability policies.

In the Report “Action for a more sustainable European tourism” and identifies the bicycle as a means of sustainable transport for tourism purposes.

Also there “European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas” that unites 107 protected areas of 13 European countries, provides that “customers will be encouraged to make the most of collective transport or to discover the protected area by bicycle or on foot or by other non-polluting means. This policy will cover both access to the tourist facility, both displacements! territory", it's still “promotional activities will be carried out to reduce the movement of vehicles, as well as promoting the use of bicycles and walking ".

To learn more about the theme and experience the Egadi by bike, you can contact many associations and sports groups that organize tours dedicated to the Egadi Islands.

Very active in the area is the FIAB (Italian Environment and Bicycle Federation) which proposes and promotes numerous cycling events and events with the aim of reviving cycling tourism, the Bicitalia network and the concept of safeguarding and protecting the landscape with a view to gentle mobility.

Among the main events:

Bimbimbici: the initiative takes the form of a ride along the city streets and in the urban area, it takes place every year in May on the occasion of the national bicycle day;

National cycling meeting: initiative involving all associations belonging to FIAB, what an opportunity to admire and learn more about Italy, by bike, in a convivial atmosphere and with local guides;

Bicistaffetta: Institutional communication event of the Italian Federation of Friends of the Bicycle organized to promote the prompt implementation of the Bicitalia cycle network among public administrations;

Local excursions and initiatives: FIAB associations each year promote hundreds of excursions and trips to discover the area both in Italy and abroad.

For information:
FIAB Palermo Bike & Trek , +39 388 868 0742
https://www.facebook.com/pg/fiabpabiketrek

Text taken from the document: Pedestrian EGADI ISLANDS, a remi, on foot (AMP Egadi Islands)

Photo © Aurelio Cibien Fiab Bike & Trek

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