A cycle path from Bologna to Verona

The Senator and former Environmental Assessor of the province of Modena, Stefano Vaccari, decided to realize an old project: build a very long cycle path along the binaries of the former railway from Bologna to Verona.

Therefore, together with his co-worker Claudio Broglia, he presented an amendment to earmark 5 million euro for Emilia Romagna.

The goal is to recover the ancient railway to create a cycle path that goes through the lower ‘Pianura Padana’ (Po Valley) for more than 100 kilometers. It is the first result of the Forgotten Railways National Day (the 8th of March) event always essential to remember that Italy has a great treasure, but still hidden: 6.400 kilometers of abandoned railways, perfect to create cycle paths for cycling tourists and enthusiasts of trekking.  

This important project is part of a wider European plan that aim to join - through a network of international cycle paths - North Cape in Norway with Valletta in Malta, crossing the continental Europe.

The Senator explains that the funds will be necessary to “incentivize the sustainable mobility, promote the transfers from home to work and promote the cycling tourism through the cities of art inside the Po Valley”, in order to complete the international cycle path of the ‘Eurovelo’ network.

Emilia Romagna has already promoted a “schedule agreement” with local bodies, involving the provinces of Modena and Bologna and all Municipalities crossed by the former railway. 

Therefore, it is an ambitious project that takes advantage of the already existing track: the old railway of Brennero that, from Crevalcore, goes through the towns of Camposanto, San Felice and Mirandola until Poggio Rusco, Sermide, Ostiglia and Basso Veronese. It is a very big and “green” link, that would join also some less-known villages with natural oasis, flows and art treasures: all of it to create a happy, affordable and sustainable travel proposal.  

Ten years ago, this project could seem an unattainable hope. Today, it is starting to take form and become an amazing reality.

 INFO:

www.bikeverona.it
www.provincia.modena.it
www.ferroviedimenticate.it