Four daily bus runs were activated on the Calalzo (railway station) – Cortina d’Ampezzo – Misurina – Auronzo – Calalzo circuit from the 1st to the 31st of August and during the first weekend in September. These runs, which left in connection with the trains arriving from Treviso, Venice and Padua, were made by buses equipped with a trailer for the transport of 30 bikes, which could be loaded and unloaded at special rest stops. Through this service the least fit trippers were able to cover by bus the longest and most strenuous stretches of the bike track “Lunga via delle Dolomiti”
Participants
Provincia di Belluno, Settori Trasporti e Turismo, Dolomitibus S.p.A.
Objectives
The aim of this project is to favour access by bike to an area of great scenic and environmental importance; to promote the use of public transport by day trippers, who make up a segment of mobility demand traditionally inclined to use private means of travel.
Activities
Activities include service planning (timetable and routes), organisation /preparation of the means of travel, opening of the booking centre, setting up and providing the service
Results
An overall number of 132 runs, carrying a total of 399 passengers plus their bikes, were totted up during the first year. The unexciting results (an average of about 3 passengers per run) was due both to bad weather in August 2005 (a mere 11 sunny days out of the 33 during which the runs were functioning, 18 cloudy days and 4 rainy days), and to the scarcity of time available for publicising the initiative.
Evaluation
The focus of the assessment concerns the costs/proceeds ratio. The project costs are covered by interregional financing during the first two years, while the economic benefit of continuing the service will be assessed at the end of the second year (2006).
Difficulties
The project started functioning with the season about to begin and there was not enough time for a proper communication campaign.
Budget
€ 46,000 including VAT (Euro)
Financial backer
The budget – fully financed within the framework of the Alps Mobility II project (Interreg IIIB Alpine Space project) amounts to € 46,000 including VAT to cover two years of service.