Sign of the times: Latest good news from the EuroVelo network

Cycling is getting a lot of focus recently and this is also helping the development of EuroVelo routes in various parts of Europe. Let us first look at Belgium, where the EuroVelo 5 - Via Romea (Francigena) section going from Marche-en-Famenne to La-Roche-en-Ardenne has been signposted with EuroVelo 5 logos since June 2020. Further signs marking the sections between La Hulpe, Wavre and Walhain will be put in place over the next few months, so that by the end of 2020, the entire route in Wallonia will be fully signposted.

As explained in this article from Pro Velo, National EuroVelo Coordination Centre in Belgium, EuroVelo 5 sections in Flanders and Brussels are not yet signed with the EuroVelo signs. However, the GPX data of the route can be downloaded from the website eurovelobelgium. Download this data in advance if you intend to cross the whole country along EuroVelo 5 – Via Romea (Francigena), to ensure you will always be able to find your way as you pedal from region to region!

We now move to Ireland where the future of cycling is looking bright, as the government recently announced the investment of 10 % of the total transport capital budget on cycling. This also concerns cycling tourism and some exciting works have already started on EuroVelo 1 – Atlantic Coast Route in the country.

In Donegal County, construction works started on some of the infrastructure for the future greenway linking Derry to Buncrana – the North West Greenway Network (follow the works on the project’s Twitter account). This greenway project is being supported by EU funding and plans to run a 33-km greenway along the line of the old Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway, from Derry City up to Buncrana.

Additionally, the Irish Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross announced last June the allocation of €182,000 to support the implementation by Clare County Council of EuroVelo 1 – Atlantic Coast Route in the County. The EuroVelo 1 route has been identified and assessed as part of a joint venture between Clare County Council and Sport Ireland and complements the Department’s wider investment in Greenways and cycling infrastructure in urban areas.

The route in Clare is approximately 317 km long and comprises six daily sections, i.e. sections which typically can be cycled in one day. It enters County Clare via counties Galway and Limerick. An interactive map of the route in Clare can be found here: ridewithgps.com/routes/30110410.

In some parts the route ties into cycle routes already in operation for some years, for example, the Doolin and Loop Head Cycle routes. The roll out of the route will include the provision of EuroVelo signage, bike repair stands, information boards and cycle racks. Much of EuroVelo 1 – Atlantic Coast Route in Ireland is already signed and it is expected that the remainder will be signed within the next 18 months.

Author(s): Florence Grégoire