Marche-Europe, how the bike trip to Brussels to promote cycle tourism ended

1,700 kilometres, 14 stages and a message for the European Parliament, to promote cycle tourism in Italy.Here is Mauro Fumagalli's long ride.

She  departed on September 10th from Civitanova Marche the “Bike long ride Marche-Europe”, the bicycle journey that in 14 days reached the European Parliament to Brussels to present to the appropriate Tourism and Transport Commission a summary document on cycling and bike tourism in Italy.The tireless person organizes and pedals this traveling tour Mauro Fumagalli, bicycle guide and founder of the project MarcheBikeLife Srl.

The tour touched 14 stages For 1,700 kilometers crossing Switzerland, Germany, France and Belgium.There are numerous conferences and meetings organized with communities, local authorities and associations of bicycle promotion.The objective is to reiterate the importance of cycle tourism in promoting the territories and their excellences, through the development of bike economy and of cycling mobility, valorising typical products, tourist consortia, accommodation facilities, food and wine companies and production districts.

In addition to Fumagalli, there were also two other ambassadors on the trip for some stretches, Carlo Luzi and Franco Tresoldi.Together they therefore collected ideas and proposals for cycle tourism and sustainable mobility.

Sport and solidarity, under the lucky star of Gino Bartali

Godmother of this ride is Joy Bartali, nephew of the champion Gino Bartali, who entrusted the caravan with a message to carry through the streets of Europe.“Gino Bartali was an undisputed symbol of Italian cycling, remembered for his great sporting exploits but above all for his great humanity – states Gioia Bartali.“Winner of three Tours of Italy, two Tours de France, four Milan-Sanremo and numerous other races, he traveled more than 700 thousand kilometers in his life, continuing to train even during the war.His name is engraved at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, for having saved 800 Jews during the last world war, hiding falsified documents in the barrel of his bicycle. Gold medal for civil valor in 2006, declared Righteous Among the Nations in 2013".He concludes the speech given at the departure of the journey by recalling his grandfather's words:“If sport is not solidarity and a school of life, it is useless”.

Marche-Europe, cycling on Italian and European cycle routes

Let's reach out on the phone Mauro Fumagalli during the trip to tell us about the undertaking.“I am really happy with the sharing that has taken place since the first stage, from Gabicce Monte – says Fumagalli.“From the beginning we followed all the imaginary and possible cycle paths, obviously in Italy there are some quite important jumps, one of which is the part of the Adriatica cycle route.The situation improves when we arrive in Ferrara, where we find a network of very beautiful cycle paths.Along the banks of the Po we crossed the lands of Food Valley Bike to go back north, this time along the Adda.From Trentino onwards it seems like you are in another world, decidedly bike friendly.We cycled along the Adige cycle path up to Bolzano and climbing several Alpine passes – tough!– we arrived in Germany by crossing Austria.What fills us with joy here is seeing fleets of cycle tourists on these splendid cycle paths, like the one on Lake Constance, who pedal happily even in the rain!”.

Many meetings and projects were shared thanks also to the presence of people who deal with sustainable mobility and work in administrations (planners, councilors, mayors) but also traders and tourism bodies, with whom we also discuss road safety.In fact, Marche-Europe carried the message of the campaign “I respect the cyclist” launched by Paola Gianotti, which involves the installation of signs in various municipalities throughout Italy indicating one and a half meters as the distance to be maintained between those driving cars and those riding bicycles, for a safe overtaking, requesting approval of the relevant law.

Fumagalli concludes:“We are driven by passion, legs and heart without neglecting the objective of leaving a concrete mark in the world of cycle tourism and sustainable mobility by making our professionalism available in intercepting actions that can benefit our country.We want to demonstrate how important this segment is, to improve the lives of all of us."

The event is particularly important in view of 2024:The European Parliament he in fact asked with one resolution that 2024 is the European Year of the Bicycle, with the adoption of strategic lines of intervention to improve cycling, sustainable mobility and ecological transition.

As expected, Mauro Fumagalli reached Brussels on 25 September to meet the Honorable Member the following day. Carlo Fidanza, Italian member of the Tourism and Transport Commission of the European Parliament, in the presence of the vice president of the European Parliament Roberts Zīle and the MEP Nicola Danti.They were given the summary document which reiterates the need to implement interventions to mend the territories, systematize and enhance the existing cycle tourism projects in Italy.