IRON CURTAIN TRAIL
“Sustainable mobility along the newest EuroVelo route, the Iron Curtain Trail”
Project Description
In 2009, the European Parliament asked the Commission and the Member States to
consider the EuroVelo Network and Iron Curtain Trail as an opportunity for promoting
European trans-border cycling infrastructure networks, supporting soft mobility and
sustainable tourism. The European Commission organised workshops to raise
awareness of the ICT and awarded grants to preparatory projects to define the
itinerary and develop overview action plans partly covering the SEE region. The
current project is the result of this preparatory work, and fully supports the general
goals of the SEE transnational programme, its third priority and improves the
coordination in promoting, planning and operation for primary and secondary
transportation networks.
During the Cold War the iron curtain has been a border, not only physical but, in a
harder manner, ideological, that divided Europe into two parts, one in the Soviet
Union's yoke and the other one open to the west and to non-communist areas. After
the end of the Cold War and the overcome of the tumultuous '90s, a lot has been
done in the direction of a complete integration of the countries once separated.
This project aims to strengthen connections, sharing of expertise and common views
on future global challenges among countries that were crossed by the iron curtain.
The taken way is the one of the promotion and value of the territory through
ecologically sustainable development in line with European environmental and social
policies. ICT project represents a good reason to cooperate since it connects most of
the SEE countries, provides opportunities to learn, to find and to share good
solutions for local and regional mobility challenges as well as to promote sustainable
transport. The common promotion of the ICT gives even an extra motivation for the
more advanced regions to cooperate and transfer their experiences and knowledge
to the less developed regions.
Objectives

improve the accessibility of the SEE region by bicycle

connect European regions by a long distance cycle route

realise opportunities for cycling and public transport connections

promote cycling as a means of sustainable mobility and tourism
exchange of experiences and raise awareness of cycling and public transport (PT)
related developments
Target groups

daily cyclists

cycling tourists

public transport service providers

cycling related tourism service providers

tourism promotion bodies

NGOs

regional development bodies

local authorities
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Activities
Project communication and dissemination. Analysis and planning. Best Practices.
Completion of the survey of the route and the detailed transnational action plan.
Feasibility study and pilot actions to improve the combined (cycling and PT) services
and the route conditions. Development of sustainable mobility offers and connecting
pilot activities (e.g. signposting, cycling friendly service providers, networks).
Promotion and external communication. Marketing and communication plan.
Development of regional soft tourism and mobility portals. Promotion tools and
campaigns, promotional events. Exchange of experiences, know-how transfer.
Organisation of the sustainable management of the route. Training events and study
tours for stakeholders. Monitoring manual and evaluation of the project results.
Integration of cycling into regional / national policies, strategies, generation of new
projects.
Duration
October 2012 - September 2014
Funding
South East Europe Transnational Cooperation Programme (SEE)
Partners
WPRED West Pannon Regional and Economic Development Nonprofit Ltd-Leader
Partner (Hungary)
BGLD Regional Governement of Burgenland (Austria)
EKOPOLIS Ekopolis Foundation (Slovakia)
HCA Hungarian Cycling Alliance (Hungary)
RRA MURA Regional Development Agency Mura Ltd (Slovenia)
BCA Bulgarian Cycling Association (Bulgaria)
ANTIGONE Antigone Information and Documentation Centre on Racism, Ecology,
Peace and Non-Violence (Greece)
GMA Green Methodology Association (Hungary)
ASWM Association of South-western Municipalities (Bulgaria)
BAAT Bulgarian Association for Alternative Tourism (Bulgaria)
INCDT National Institute for Research and Development in Tourism (Romania)
MOJ BICIKL Ngo My Bike (Croatia)
YCC Yugo Cycling Campaign (Serbia)
CDSEPR Centre for Development of the South-East planning region (FYROM)
Prefecture of East Macedonia and Thrace (Greece)
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