Good practice:

E-bike

Project “E-bike Net” addressed the issue of sustainable individual transport mobility. The current structure of the transport infrastructure in the cross-border area was very centralized, connecting smaller towns with the center, thus neglecting the connections between the smaller towns themselves, especially the towns along the Danube and between the 2 countries. Furthermore, public transport could never had the flexibility to provide in the district towns the means of transport for the wanted destination at any moment and without changing different vehicles. We created and promoted a network of electric bicycles, which people used to move freely in the whole cross-border area of Bulgaria and Romania using the current road network or some dirt roads and to be able to charge the bicycles in a range of up to 70 kilometers throughout the CBC area. The budget for our operation was 768 392,92 euro. Project activities was: study for e-bike network; preparation and creation of the network though purchase and placement of e-bikes and charging stations in the whole CBC area; trained operators for e-bike maintenance and small repairs; promotional campaign; information and publicity campaign, organization of promotional events; participation at tourism fairs; project management. The main result of the project was created and well-promoted, recognizable network of e-bicycles in 32 towns in the CBC area.

The project was funded from the European Union.
Total budget/expenditure: EUR 762.085,72
European Union funding: EUR 647.772,86
During the implementation of the project the bikes were free to use.

Improved connectivity of the cross-border transport system by integration of a new transport scheme for sustainable mobility. Developed e-bike network. Promoted and effectively used e-bike network of 32 towns with e-bike stations. 70 e-bike charging station points covering the whole CBC area; around 95 000 inhabitants benefiting from the e-bike Net, 480 participants in e-biking events within the project; 2350 e-bike free rentals within the project; 2 developed e-bike connectivity studies.

Tourists need to ship the bike to the bike station (hotel, information center, etc.)where they rent it from (if they don’t do back there). This inconvenience limits and decreases the interest by the bikers who would like to make longer tours.

Cycling tourism is one of the most popular types of tourism. Drawing from the natural resources in Bulgaria, the routes for cycling can be numerous. We present this project as a good policy because it is a prerequisite for the development not only of cycling tourism but also of exploratory cultural - historical and natural tourism. Going along the routes, the tourist has had the opportunity not only to ride a bicycle, but also to go through landmarks in the region.
The project gave an opportunity to explore the tourist attractions along the Danube on both sides of the border by renting an electric bicycle.