Like many of its European neighbors, Poland has adopted a significant cycling plan, including the development of a large cycling network, particularly along the Baltic Sea coast. The objective is both to promote cycling in Poland, while also attracting tourists in search of scenic bike rides.
In just a few years, the region of West Pomerania in northwestern Poland has succeeded in creating a veritable regional network of some 800 km of cycle routes. Around 350 km of the network comprises exclusively new cycle tracks that have already been opened or are currently under construction. All the work is scheduled to be completed by 2025. One of the most spectacular and costly projects concerns an old bridge over the Oder, on the border between Poland and Germany, built at the end of the 19th century. This has now been transformed into a bicycle and pedestrian track.
These routes mainly connect major cities, train stations and tourist attractions. The aim is both to encourage cycling on a daily basis to relieve road congestion, and to promote bicycle tourism. Indeed, one section is part of EuroVelo, the vast European network of 17 major cycling routes that cross the entire continent. This is managed by the European Cyclists Federation (ECF) and currently totals more than 90,000 km.
As in Romania, Serbia, or Germany and the Netherlands, the development of this infrastructure aims to reduce CO2 emissions and improve the quality of air and life for local residents.
See the interactive map of bike paths already open for use: trasyrowerowe.wzp.pl
