The conceptual solution for the bicycle path along the old railroad from Belgrade to the Adriatic receives the EGWA award

The bicycle association Yugo Cycling Campaign from Belgrade received this year's award from the European Green Paths Association (EGWA) for the conceptual design of the bicycle path, along the route of the old railway from Belgrade to the Adriatic Sea, which was declared the second most beautiful in Europe.

As stated in the announcement, it concerns the transformation of the abandoned railroad along the route of the old "Cira" train, from Belgrade through Uzice, Visegrad, Sarajevo, Mostar, Dubrovnik to Herceg Novi and Zelenika.

The project was financed by the EU and the Western Balkans Fund (WBF), and the prize was awarded in Rome.

"Giro di Ciro", as the authors of the project dubbed the future green path, represents an extraordinary undertaking - formation of a pedestrian-cycling path about 1,000 kilometers long, which passes through four states of the region, connects dozens of cities, national parks, landscapes of exceptional qualities, monuments under the protection of UNESCO and it passes through an area where several million people live.

The concept of greenways (zelene staze, vias verde) implies the formation of paths intended exclusively for non-motorized traffic, usually on the abandoned railroad tracks.

That concept, as stated, is widespread in the countries of Western Europe and North America, and there are tens of thousands of kilometers of green paths used by millions of cycling tourists.

They are extremely popular because they mostly pass through untouched natural areas, which were once only accessible by train.

-After the abolition of railways in much of our region, in the sixties, many areas and settlements became inaccessible. In some regions, such as for example in Herzegovina, this spelled doom for many smaller villages. With this project, they get a chance to revive, to develop the local economy through accompanying services for cycling tourists - according to the announcement.

A special attraction are the old, abandoned railway stations, which are given a new function by this project, chiefly for the purposes of tourism and hospitality.

It should be noted that certain parts of this route have already received a new role: the part from Uzice towards Lake Vrutci, parts from Mostar along the Neretva, parts in Herzegovina (through Popovo polje) and in Konavle.

Several stations have already been converted into tourist facilities (Uzice, Bistrik in Sarajevo, Ravno and Zavala in Herzegovina, Sargan, as well as the penultimate station on the route, Skver in Herceg Novi.

The formation of a coordinating body between four countries is expected soon, and would take the role of designing, promoting and completing this greenway.

The proponents of the project - who are celebrating 25 years of work this year as the first NGO for cycling promotion in Serbia - aim to propose a new route to be included in the concept of the Euro Velo Route, promoted and managed by the European Cycling Federation (ECF), which would increase the attractiveness and visibility of that project significantly.

Association of cyclists Yugo Cycling Campaign from Belgrade

European Association of Green Paths

EGWA

Western Balkans Fund

WBF

Giro di Ciro

Euro Velo Route

bicycle path along the route of the old railway from Belgrade to the Adriatic