Bike land Switzerland (Veloland Schweiz)

Best Practice

Topics

• Mobility
• Mobility

Short description

As a first project, the foundation Veloland Schweiz planned and realised a national bicycle route system with nine national cycling routes through Switzerland. The project now consists of maintenance and improvement of the national bicycle route system. Further current projects are the expansion of several regional cycling routes and integration into the national bicycle route system, and the combination of cycling services with hiking, skating and canoeing services.

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Project executive

The foundation "Veloland Schweiz" was established 1995 as a non-profit organisation. In line with a "Public Private Partnership", the aim of the foundation is the development of sustainable leisure and tourism offerings in the field of "Human Powered Mobility", especially sports and public transport.

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Participants

Schweiz Tourismus -- Federal offices: ASTRA, BfE, BfG

Objectives

a) 1995-1998: -- Veloland Schweiz: Planning and realisation of a national bicycle route system through Switzerland, consisting of nine national cycling routes. b) 1998-today: -- Veloland Schweiz: Evaluation, maintenance and improvement of the national cycling routes. -- Veloland Regional: Expansion of several regional cycling routes and integration into the national bicycle route system. -- Mountainbikeland Schweiz: Planning and realisation of a national mountain bike route system through Switzerland. -- Schweiz Mobil: Combination of cycling services with hiking, skating and canoeing services is a third still ongoing project.

Activities

Cycling maps for the whole country and for single regions. Cycling guides for all national routes. Signalisation of routes. Timetable for public transport as booklet "Velo und Bahn". List of load possibilities with public transport. List of accommodation possibilities, e.g. youth hostels, farms ("Schlaf im Stroh"), guesthouses, bed and breakfast.

Process

There is no information available.

Results

Succes factors: Save and signalled cycling routes in the most beautiful environments of Switzerland. Cooperation with organisations of public transport and accommodation. Cooperation with Schweiz Tourismus for successful marketing.

Evaluation

Veloland Schweiz is evaluated annually (see publications)

Difficulties

There is no information available.

Budget

Varies from year to year, dependent on projects planned and executed (Euro)

Financial backer

Public financing (national offices): ASTRA, BfE, BfG. -- Privat financing: Foundation "Veloland Schweiz", Schweiz Tourismus.

Source of information

Competition

Participant at the 2005 Future in the Alps competition

Homepage

http://www.veloland.ch

Publication

-- Veloland Schweiz, 2001: Resultate der Zählungen und Befragungen 2000, Berne. -- Veloland Schweiz, 2002: Resultate der Zählungen und Befragungen 2001, Berne. -- Veloland Schweiz, 2003: Resultate der Zählungen und Befragungen 2002, Berne. -- Veloland Schweiz, 2005: Resultate der Zählungen und Befragungen 2004, Berne.

Project executive as above

Contact person as above

Comments

Impact on nature and environment

Energy savings of around 40 TJ per year.

Economic value added

Regional economic impulses for the catering and hotel industry and for the tourism industry (excursions, bike renting).

Socio-cultural value added

There is no information available.

Innovative content

Integrated offer (cycling routes, accommodation, public transport, luggage transport etc.)

Good governance

There is no information available.

PR impact

There is no information available.

Multiplier effect / networking

Integration of regional cycling routes encourages short distance excursions

Transferability

Transferability is given.

Remarks

Similar projects planned for hiking, skating and canoeing.

Further information