Long-distance cycling route

Tourist bike routes or bike trails are signposted designed layout that primarily serve the bicycle tourism and are located in tourist maps. Tourist bike routes are also referred to as cycle routes, but usually simplified as bike paths. For longer tourist cycle routes is also called cycle path or cycle track. The terms cycle path and cycle route denote contrast, more marked layout help for everyday cycling. In Switzerland, the cycle routes are also referred to as bicycle route.

To designate

Although a large part of the tourist cycle routes carries the word " bike path " in the name, they should not be with " bike paths " within the meaning of the traffic laws, bicycle facilities, confused.

The name of the tourist cycle routes is regionally and nationally different. Thus, especially in southern Germany, Austria and South Tyrol next to " Route" and " bike path " ( in analogy to the " long-distance trail " of mountaineering and the " trail riding " ) or " cycle route " in use, mainly in Switzerland " cycle route ". The General German Bicycle Club ( ADFC ) recommends for technical discussions and literature to use the term " tourist cycle route " instead of " Route" and for national cycle routes the term " cycle path " instead of the usual and the term " cycle track ".

Guidance form

The term " tourist cycle route " is independent of its leadership form. Usually they try to put the routes on separate cycle paths or quiet side roads, field and forest paths. Perform tourist cycle routes via major roads, bicycle facilities are usually available. Bike routes on disused railway lines allow routes with low slopes away from traffic.

Topics bike routes

Tourist bike routes are often based on cultural, natural ellen or geographical themes. Especially popular are cycling routes along rivers and canals, as they can combine nature experience with a gradient poor track alignment (eg Oder- Neisse Cycle ). Other routes link cultural monuments (eg Umgebindehaus bike path ), historic sites ( eg, Krabat bike path ) or particularly interesting natural areas (eg Wolf bike path ).

Topics bike routes are particularly well suited for marketing by tourism organizations and tourist offices. Therefore, new routes emerge again and again with new topics to lure connected with brochures, websites and advertisements bicycle tourists in the tourist regions. Often is not the shortest or gradient poorest, but the most interesting track the target, which is why tourist cycle routes are also attractive for everyday cycling is not always the same.

Signalization

An important feature of tourist cycle routes is a continuous expulsion. While in the past simple signpost similar uses of hiking signs, so it is common today to attach small signs with directions to standardized pictograms main signpost.

Arrow sign

Between Directory

Certification

The ADFC offers since 2006 to check long-distance cycle according to a strict scale and certify with a star rating as premium route. In the assessment will then go an eviction, width and trafficability, dining facilities and rest areas, bed bike accommodations, traffic congestion and safety considerations. After no more than three years, re- driving is necessary for a recertification, so that the cycle path may continue to be marketed as a premium route.

Since the criteria are very strict, 5 stars will seldom forgiven. Already in routes with 3 and 4 stars can expect to be found a good bike route cyclists.

Paths of the countries and regions

International long-distance routes in Europe

• Berlin- Copenhagen Cycle Route: Berlin - Copenhagen
• Cycle route: around the lake
• Danube Bike Trail ( Euro Velo Route EV6 ): Donaueschingen - Black Sea
• Romans Bike Trail: Passau ( Bavaria ) - Enns (Upper Austria )
• Drauradweg: Dobbiaco - Maribor
• R1 cycle: Boulogne -sur -Mer - Saint Petersburg
• North Sea Cycle Route ( Euro Velo Route EV2): around the North Sea
• Pan-European Cycle Route: Prague - Paris
• Rheinradweg: Oberalp Pass ( Switzerland ) - Rhine estuary in Rotterdam ( The Netherlands)
• Via Romana: Xanten - Nijmegen

There is a project Euro Velo of the European Cyclists' Federation, according to which 12 European cycle routes will be created with a length of over 60,000 kilometers. Of these, there are currently about one-third, actually signposted but is only a fraction. A very extensive overview of cycle routes in Europe is to find bike trails for multi-day bicycle tours in Europe in the portal.

Long distance routes in Germany

Provincial and municipal tourism marketing companies shall establish happy to promote regional tourism, a tourist cycling routes. The General German Bicycle Club recommends for long-distance cycle a number of minimum criteria:

• Unique name
• Designed as a distance, circular route or network
• Minimum length of 150 km or recommended requirement for two nights route
• Continuous navigability by bike, even with tandem or trailer
• At least two meters wide
• Passable in all weather conditions
• Uniform and consistent signposting
• Natural route guidance
• Minimize the impact of vehicular traffic
• Tourist infrastructure along the route (restaurants, hotels, hostels, campsites)
• Connection to the public transport
• Regular inspection and maintenance

Even within these criteria, the quality of cycle routes vary, so by different road surfaces, local slopes and occasional lines on or along roads with high vehicle load. A database or maps with references to such defects as so-called " inevitable gap supplements " are not yet established, but appropriate cards are available for some regions.

In this sense, the ADFC has proposed an orb Germany, which will consist of 12 premium routes. In addition, a network of primary 's intercity routes is available. The North Rhine-Westphalia has since 2013 under the title Avenue bike trails program cycle routes on disused railway lines from; currently 364 km.

Bike trails in Austria

In Austria, the bike trails on the part of provincial governments in collaboration with the communities in their area of ​​expertise they fall structurally, the national tourism organization Austria are developed (Österreich Werbung ) and the regional tourism organizations. These trails are consistently through the geo-information systems of the countries (on special maps of the Mapserver countries, also summarized below geoland.at ), available accessible to on cadastral level, and published as maps.

The international connection is made in collaboration with the Euro Velo Radorganisation and within the framework of EU projects (INTERREG ). Besides the classic trunk routes and the route network of mountain bike tracks in alpine terrain is naturally well developed in Austria. Here the countries are working in particular with the Austrian Alpine Association ( OeAV ) and the other alpine clubs that serve mountain trails and cabins, shared. Forced is also working with ÖBB Postbus and, as far as the ease of transport and rental of wheels for long distance trips.

In Austria have from the official maps and country tourist information.

• Burgenland has developed a comprehensive network of 1800 km (mostly paved ) marked cycle paths and 433 km of mountain bike routes. Detailed maps will be offered in the form of online documents
• The bicycle network of the federal state of Carinthia is relatively poorly developed. Today ( 2009) there are 1300 km, the project cycle paths Care in Carinthia is the AMS Carinthia, the Regional Management and Pro instruments Carinthia implemented. In the division road biking are 11 round trips, trekking in the area of ​​cycling 10 bike trails, and guided tour 8 regions with more or less coherent remote routes in the mountain biking.
• Lower Austria has about 4,000 km of cycle paths network, and has launched a campaign Radland started to develop this yet. Among the numerous tours of the classes family friendly, athletic, indulgent and Bike 7 big tours have been designated as top cycling route. Published four maps ( Cyclecard wine district east, Radatlas cider district Radatlas Waldviertel and bike line Kamp- Thaya-March Radtourenbuch ).
• 5000 km bike path exist in Upper Austria 2,200 km of which are referred to (30 main routes, 7 lines connecting the individual routes ), which form the focus of the Upper Austrian bike trails concept as " touristy particularly interesting highlights bike routes ". The focus is on family-friendly and Routing " away from traffic, along rivers and lakes. "
• In Styria, a cycle route network of 2000 km is reported, on the bike routes extend to 64, 13 of the main cycling routes. Be divided in the way the lines flow cycling, enjoy cycling, Family Cycling and mountain biking. Will issue, free cycling map Styria
• The province of Salzburg has been 630 km of route removed ( by 2015 are 760 kilometers planned in flächendeckendem expansion ), and 6,000 -signposted hiking and mountain bike trails with a total of 2,000 km. Since the orientation of the UCI Road World Championships 2006, the area around the city of Salzburg is accessible by road trails, cycle paths are the Top 6 cycle route reported, including 3 multi-day routes. The Salzburg provincial government has set up its own bicycle traffic information system called LAS WEGAS.
• The Tyrolean provincial government has 780 km cycle paths throughout Tirol ( close cooperation exists with the South Tyrolean provincial government ), and holds over 29 regional cycle routes together.
• Vorarlberg offers within 250 km of cycle paths primarily a short-haul network, specifically identified are about 10 cycling tours that are included in part in the international long-distance trails.
• Of the 1,100 kilometer cycling network (as of 2006) in Vienna 7 Bike routes are designated as bike paths issues - unless they are part of or alternative to the Lower Austrian long-distance routes, they are also naturally short distances. Here, too, is published as a map series Cyclecard Vienna.

Among the most famous transnational routes in Austria include the Donauweg ( Passau - Linz - Vienna - Bratislava, Euro Velo Route EV6, R1 Upper Austria, R6 northeast, the busiest cycle route in Europe ), the route Via Bavarica Tyrolensis - Inn Valley Bicycle - EV7 Sun Route ( Linz - Salzburg - Lienz ) and the amber route ( EV9 Brno - Vienna - Marburg).

Cycle routes in Switzerland

The Cycling in Switzerland Foundation distinguishes between national and regional cycle routes. The nine national cycle routes, which carry red markings are:

• Rhone Route (309 km; National Route 1 )
• Rhine Route (424 km; National Route 2 )
• North-south route ( 363 km; National Route 3 )
• Alpine Panorama Route ( 483 km; National Route 4 )
• Mittelland Route ( 369 km; National Route 5 )
• Graubünden Route (152 km and 128 km, National Route 6 )
• Jura Route (275 km; National Route 7 )
• Aare Route (305 km; National Route 8 )
• Lakes Route ( 497 km; National Route 9 )

Cycle paths in South Tyrol

• Bike path Vinschgau: Part of the cycle path Via Claudia Augusta. The bike path leads from the Reschenpass at about 1500 hm to Meran (340 hm). Total distance: 80 km
• Bike path Merano - Bolzano: The bike path runs along the rail link between Merano and Bolzano. Between the river Adige and orchards leads to the city of Bolzano. Total distance: 30 km

Bike trails in France

In France there are bike trails and bike paths corresponding signs under the name of " greenways " ( Greenways ).

Bike trails in Spain

Within the project Vías Verdes (green paths ) were being converted disused railway lines to cycle routes.

National bike routes in Denmark

In Denmark, in addition to several regional routes eleven national cycle routes exist (No. 11 is not assigned ).

• ( 1) Vestkystruten, 560 km
• ( 2) Hanstholm - København, 420 km
• ( 3) Hærvejsruten, 450 km
• ( 4) Søndervig - København, 310 km
• ( 5) Østkystruten, 650 km
• (6 ) Esbjerg - København, 330 km
• ( 7) Sjællands Odde - Rødbyhavn, 240 km
• ( 8) Sydhavsruten ( Rudbøl Møn ), 360 km
• (9 ) Helsingør Online Magazine, 290 km
• (10 ) Bornholm rundt, 105 km
• (12 ) Limfjordsruten, 610 km

Statewide bike routes in the Netherlands

The Netherlands have a strong network of long-distance routes, the so-called Landelijke Fietsroutes (short LF -routes ). In addition, the entire country from a system of bicycle hubs is (Dutch: knooppunt ) running through it, which results in very individual ways the route design. The 24 Knooppuntnetwerken take care of the numbering of the nodes and the signs of the paths.

National bike routes in Norway

In Norway, there is a national network of bike ( Nasjonal sykkelrute ) of ten ways that extend all (except for the No.1 bike paths and 10) in the southern part of the country.

Radtrails in Canada

In Canada there is the Trans Canada Trail.

Biking Trails in the USA

In the U.S., there was the absence of a national cycle network only long associations such as the Adventure Cycling Association ( ACA), the recommendations and guides for topics and long-distance routes offered. From the state was limited to only two routes that have existed since 1982 and largely followed the recommendations of the ACA. It was not until 2003, a working group of the AASHTO began to revise the national cycle network fundamentally and introduced in 2008 the first results before. 2009 pulled the Federal Highway Administration plans to be presented in 2011 and finally an enormously enlarged and numbered cycle network through the entire United States. This is according to current state but mostly as corridor recommendations, which in future is to run once a cycle route - an actual routing or raised signage exists for now only in some places.

In addition, an increasing number of unused rail lines are converted to bike paths (Rails to Trails ), and in the context of some cities, there are regional cycle route networks.