Lake Garda to open new 'floating' cycle path
A new “floating” bike path is under construction in Italy, which will enable cyclists to circle the entirety of Lake Garda.
Recently released drone footage shows that the project by public works firm ATT of Salò is well under way, with construction set to be completed by 2021.
As reported in Garda Post, the overall cost is expected to reach €102 million, with the path measuring 87 miles in length.
The path is designed to suit all levels of cyclist, with alternative travel options available – particularly at hillier sections – for those unable to traverse the lake’s more challenging inclines. Those disinclined to take on the lake’s trickier areas will be able to skip out sections of the bike route by going by boat instead.
The unique design of the path is intended to make cyclists feel that they are floating or flying above the lake’s waters. Built on the lake’s shoreline and cliff edges, it will grant visitors a new perspective of Lake Garda.
Garda is Italy’s largest lake. Divided between the provinces of Verona in the south-east, Brescia in the south-west and Trentino in the north, it's already popular with domestic and international travellers; construction of the "floating" path, or Ciclabile di Limone sul Garda, is aimed at boosting cycling tourism to the region.
It will also connect villages which remain relatively isolated, with hopes that trade will subsequently improve for restaurants and hotels in the Garda area.
The popularity of cycling tourism has grown in recent years in both cities and rural regions. Bike share schemes have increased massively in popularity in New Orleans and Louisiana, while Intrepid Travel recently launched a 14-day cycling tour of Japan, beginning in Osaka and ending in Tokyo.
While a trip around the entirety of the new Lake Garda path could prove a stretch for some, it pales in comparison to some of Europe’s longest cycling routes. EuroVelo’s Mediterranean Route takes in 3,658 miles of coast, from Athens to Cadiz, while its 4,598-mile Sun Route travels all the way from Nordkap in the far north of Norway to the Maltese capital of Valletta.
