*by Vicky Karantzavelou
The Interministerial Working Group begins the development of the National Bicycle Strategy, promoting sustainable mobility, improving infrastructure and strengthening the cycling culture in Greece.
By decision of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, the Interministerial Working Group was established to prepare the National Bicycle Action Plan, so that there is a Bicycle Strategy with the participation of the Ministries of Infrastructure and Transport, Interior, Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Environment and Energy, Tourism, K.E.D.E. and EN.P.E. This initiative aims to promote cycling as a means of transportation, sports and sustainable development. This action is part of the broader framework of cooperation between the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Ministry of Tourism, the KEDE and the NGO “Cities for Cycling”, while it is a continuation of previous work to improve the infrastructure and safety of cyclists in Greece.
The first meeting of the Group was held yesterday at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and focused on the drafting of the National Strategy for Cycling. The meeting, which was coordinated by the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Vassilis Economou, who is also the head of the Group, was attended, among others, by its members, the Alternate Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Yiannis Vroutsis, the Secretary General of Spatial Planning and Urban Environment of the Ministry of Education, Efthimios Bakoyannis, the Deputy Regional Governor of Sports – Olympic Ideal, Attica Region, Vasiliki Millousi, the Vice President of KEDE, Grigoris Konstantellos and the Secretary General of KEDE, Dimitrios Kafantaris.
Emphasis was placed on the proposals submitted by the Mayors of Municipalities in Attica, for the development of cycling culture in local communities.
At the same time, the meeting was attended by representatives of organizations that contribute to the promotion of cycling, such as the Operations Director and Marketing Director of the “PPC Cycling Tour of Greece 2025”, Takis Xouris, the Commercial Director of the Organizing Committee of the International Cycling Tour of Greece, Thanos Georgiou, the Head of the SUMP Department and Deputy Director of the Transport Development Directorate “Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans in Attica”, Evangelia Stavropoulou and the Director of the NGO “Cities for the Bicycle”, Spyros Papageorgiou.
The Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Vassilis Economou, after the meeting concluded, stated: “The establishment of the Interministerial Working Group and the first meeting on the National Bicycle Strategy constitute an important step towards the creation of a modern and safe network of bicycle paths, aiming to improve the quality of life and promote the bicycle as a sustainable means of transportation and exercise.”
In Greece, since 2016, the Bike Friendly brand has been created, in which over 130 hotels, 10 Greek destinations and municipalities, and many companies offering bicycle tours or other bicycle services participate. All participants are presented at www.bikefrienly.travel.
Source: traveldailynews.gr
