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New baseline to track EuroVelo development levels

Thursday, September 24, 2026
The 2026 EuroVelo Route Development Status Report is out! And with it, a new understanding of cycling conditions on EuroVelo routes. As of 2026, the EuroVelo network is fully developed along 60% of its total length, while 82% is at least partially developed. 46% of the network is signed with EuroVelo signs in 26 countries.
New legend on EuroVelo maps
New legend on EuroVelo maps

This year’s report marks a new start for EuroVelo. The route categories update carried out earlier in the year introduced a different logic for speaking of EuroVelo development levels, with more specific definitions and criteria for route sections to be considered fully developed, and new “partially developed” categories designating continuous sections where cycling is possible, but where traffic volumes or surface qualities need improvements.

With this change, instead of relying on national cycling standards, NECCs and other national partners can base their reporting on common definitions and thresholds (based on the European Certification Standard’s methodology) that reflect a shared understanding of cycling conditions and are applicable across all countries – with continuity, interactions with motorised traffic, and surface quality as key criteria.

As many EuroVelo sections have been reclassified from one category to another, we introduce this year a new baseline for tracking EuroVelo route developments and no direct comparison with previous years’ figures can be made.

Key figures for the EuroVelo network in 2026 are:

  • 92,500+ km: total length of EuroVelo. It increased since 2025, partly due to the extension of EuroVelo 1 – Atlantic Coast Route in Galicia, Spain.
  • 60% (55,300+ km): portion of EuroVelo that is categorised as EuroVelo Certified or developed, with EuroVelo signs or not. Fully developed routes now correspond to a common understanding of qualitative sections of the network where cyclists can expect route continuity, limited traffic levels and good surfaces. Previously, the developed categories referred to national standards, with 69% of the network considered ready to cycle in 2025, but with heterogeneous conditions for cyclists.
  • 82% (75,500+ km): portion of EuroVelo that is categorised as at least partially developed (also including EuroVelo certified and developed), with EuroVelo signs or not. They are an indicator of network continuity, including lower quality stretches with potential for further development.
  • 46% (42,800+ km): portion of EuroVelo that is signed with EuroVelo signs, across 26 countries. This is an increase of 4,300+ km compared to 2025 (+4%) thanks to new signs installed and more accurate data collected.
  • 18% (16,500+ km): portion of EuroVelo that is currently undeveloped, or where conditions are unknown, based on newly collected data.
Map 2026

This new baseline for tracking developments, introducing a notion of route continuity, is more aligned with the EuroVelo Strategy 2030. Although it is unlikely that EuroVelo will be fully and well developed by 2030, this year’s figures allow us to expect that all EuroVelo routes will be at least partially developed by then, i.e. continuous and cyclable even though some sections may remain unsafe. This objective calls for an identification of at least “Partially developed” options for an average of 4,232 km per year and may require the removal of some network sections where no developments can reasonably be foreseen. Of course, quality should also improve overall, aiming for the highest possible rate of developed and EuroVelo certified routes.

Comparison with 2025 development levels is not straightforward, but the report still highlights three countries where the percentage of developed routes increased: Italy, Albania and Poland.

Map 2026

In addition to route developments reported by National EuroVelo Coordination Centres (NECCs) and other national contact points, the report also highlights results from ECF’s geospatial analysis on the reach of the EuroVelo network across Europe. In particular:

  • 31% of the EuroVelo countries population (more than 166 million people) live within 5 km of a EuroVelo route, showing that investing in the continuity, safety and quality of EuroVelo routes serves the daily life of a large share of Europeans as much as cycling tourists.
  • 56% of local provinces and municipalities in Europe (NUTS 3) are crossed by a EuroVelo route, indicating that EuroVelo covers the majority of local governments and enhances European connectivity, especially in combination with regional cycle networks across Europe.
  • 59% (47,259 km) of the network crosses rural areas, 31% (24,895 km) of the network crosses periurban areas (towns and suburbs) and 9% (7,556 km) of the network crosses urban areas (cities). EuroVelo is a strategic transport network with relevance for a large share of the European population in all types of environments. Interestingly, EuroVelo routes in urban areas gather 10 times more bicycle traffic than in rural areas according to the EuroVelo Usage Barometer (2025). This confirms that the overall volume of users is more important in regions where population density is higher, with local traffic probably playing an important role, including on EuroVelo routes.
Map of EuroVelo routes showing the density of population living within 10 km of a route, NUTS-3 regions and Natura 2000 areas crossed

Note that this analysis does not include the United Kingdom, Serbia and certain parts of Cyprus, due to a lack of "degree of urbanisation" (DEGURBA) classification data in those areas.

Browse the 2026 EuroVelo Route Development Status Report for more figures, including development rates per route and per country and EuroVelo development maps.

This report was published with the kind support of Cyclite.

Cyclite is a brand dedicated to developing lightweight, high-quality equipment for carrying gear on the bike, including bikepacking bags and transport solutions for long-distance cycling and everyday use. Driven by a deep passion for cycling, our mission is to enable more people to explore the world by bike. As supporters of this report, we strongly believe that expanding and improving cycling infrastructure across Europe is essential. Well-connected and safe routes will encourage more people to experience the unique freedom of bikepacking and bicycle travel – one of the most rewarding and sustainable forms of mobility and outdoor activity.

Cover picture: high-quality greenway in Kamiensky County, Poland, on EuroVelo 10 - Baltic Sea Cycle Route.

PHOTO © ARCHIVES OF MARSHAL’S OFFICE OF THE WEST POMERANIAN VOIVODSHIP