Chapter 2.4: Topic n. 2 – Cycling and tourism

The Ministry of Local Development, Department of Tourism, financially supports the development of cycle tourism within the National Program for Support of Tourism, among other goals, to the "Support for the building of accompanying infrastructure for the travel industry in sporting and recreational activities" (sub-program no. 2). As a part of this subsidy item, there is included "the construction, repair and reconstruction of cycle paths" and "reconstruction and establishment of parking facilities and rest areas for cycle tourists." Sub-program no. 3 of this program is designed for the presentation of the Czech Republic as a tourist destination, among others also in the area of cycle tourism (subsidised for non-investment costs). The Ministry of Local Development supports the development of cycle tourism directly in the form of regular subsidies to the civic association: the Czech Tourists Club (approximately 5 – 7 million CZK per year), as the club co-ordinates the national network of hiking paths and off-road cycle routes and manages the production and installation of cycle tourist signs and markers along Czech cycle routes and manages their maintenance in co-operation with the regional representatives of the Czech Tourists Club and with the help of sponsors. The club has issued brochures on accommodation facilities along the cycle routes (the Eurobeds 2001 and 2002) as well.

The Czech Tourist Authority, a contributory organisation under the Ministry of Local Development issued a brochure on cycle tourism in the Czech Republic: “Cycling free and easy”. In the past years, the authority has also supported the cycle tourism through subsidising the projects aimed at the creation of regional tourism products, internet presentations and the production of promotion materials.

The main conception document for planning of cycle routes in the Czech Republic is the “Basic Network of Cycle Routes in the Czech Republic”, which was elaborated for the Czech Ministry of Transport in 1997. This document sets-up a hierarchy of cycle routes and classifies them as follows: long-distance, regional and local ones. This structure has contributed to co-ordination of on-going fragmented activities carried out individually by municipal and regional governments. This document also initiated the process of cycle route signing in the Czech Republic. An updated list of the sign-posted cycle routes can be found at www.cyklotrasy.cz.

Signposting of cycle routes in the Czech Republic

The Ministry for Regional Development supports cycle tourism also through its direct subsidies to the civic association of Czech Hiking Club which manages signposting of off-road cycle routes in the Czech Republic. The production, installation and maintenance of cycle signs on off-road stretches is coordinated through regional representatives of the Czech Hiking Club, with a kind cooperation of sponsors. Additional subsidies for maintenance of on-road cycle signs are acquired from the regional and local governments. As for the 1^st of January 2009, the total length of cycle routes in the Czech Republic makes 37 000 kms.

Cyclist Welcome

Anyone who cycles in the Czech Republic will have run into the problem of inadequate services for cyclists. Your hotel h teach-2-4-cycl-welcome as nowhere for you to store your bike, the staff have no idea where the nearest bike repair shop is, and restaurants do not usually cater for those doing strenuous exercise. The Cyclists Welcome project is here to improve the quality of services for cyclists. Cyclists Welcome is a nationwide certification scheme for evaluation and inspection of the tourist services and facilities of participating establishments. Certified establishments are labeled with a green and white logo depicting a smiling bicycle. The certification involves standards comparable with systems in other European countries (e.g. Bett&Bike in Germany and RADfreundliche Betriebe in Austria). Every tourist facility that wants to be awarded the Cyclists Welcome logo must meet certain requirements.

CZECH ENVIRONMENTAL PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION. The initiator and manager of the project is the Czech Environmental Partnership Foundation (Nadace Partnerství), the leading Czech foundation supporting environmental projects in all regions of the Czech Republic. Its cycling-related work includes the highly successful Greenways program (including the Moravian Wine Trails and Prague-Vienna Greenways).

Greenways in the Czech Republic

Greenways are routes, trails or natural corridors used in harmony with their ecological function and their potential for sport, tourism and recreation. More. European Greenways Association (EGWA) - www.aevv-egwa.org

In the Czech Republic the Greenways program is coordinated by the Partnership Foundation which teach-2-4-greenways provides assistance and support to organisations and projects contributing to sustainable development along trails and natural corridors. The main objective of the program is to create a network of organisations and projects for exchange of experiences and cooperation. Czech greenways yet do not offer such a good level as Spanish or French ones nevertheless they belong to the most worked out trails in the Czech Republic. The most famous Czech greenways are Moravian wine trails, the Greenway Prague – Vienna and Krakow – Moravia – Vienna Greenway.

Greenways is an assistance and grant making program of the Czech Environmental Partnership Foundation. Through this program the Foundation provides support to organizations and projects aiming at sustainable development along the trails and natural corridors. Creation of a network of organizations and projects that can share experience and exchange ideas nationally and internationally is an important goal of the program as well.

Greenways bring benefits for nature conservation and heritage protection and interpretation, provide opportunities for better mobility, recreation and tourism, and challenge lifestyles and sustainable use of natural resources. Greenways inspire citizens, local politicians, authorities and businessmen for joined planning and enhancing quality of life in their community.

Greenways Program focuses on projects that integrate solutions for several issues with the aim to enhance quality of life for inhabitants of towns and villages. The main themes of the Program are the following:

local and regional development;
sensitive and safe transportation;
soft tourism;
conservation of natural and cultural heritage;
healthy life-style.

Moravian Wine Trails - www.vinarske.stezky.cz

The Moravian Wine Trails are a long-term project for the development of viniculture and sustainable tourism in South Moravia. The project has been implemented by the Czech Environmental Partnership Foundation (Nadace Partnerství) in collaboration with 280 wine-growing municipalities and other partners since 1999. Each of the 10 wine-growing regions in Moravia is connected by its own wine trail loop, with all loops connected to the arterial Moravian Wine Trail. Visitors can thus choose from one-day trips or longer tours on which to discover local culture, wines and monuments, all from a 1,200-km network of cycling trails.

Praha–Wien Greenways - www.pragueviennagreenways.org

Praha–Wien Greenways is a network of bicycle and hiking trails between Prague and Wien. The trail is 470 km long and wonders through historical towns and romantic villages, along beautiful castles and chateaus or monasteries. The trail goes through fascinating landscapes of fish ponds and marshes in South Bohemia or wineyards of South Moravia.

Other regional loops give tourists enriching opportunities to explore Rozmberk Heritage Greenways, Lichtenstein Heritage Greenways or Handicraft Greenways.

Praha–Wien Greenways was established by civil association baring the same name in 1992. Czech Environmental Partnership Foundation (Nadace Partnerstvi) manages the project since 1998 as part of its assistance program. Friends of Czech Greenways in New York City are the official partner in the USA.

Download additional material as PDF file