The Ministry of Territory and Sustainability is highlighting and putting in value the current economic potential of the bicycle touring.
According to that, it is planned that at the end of this spring, several actions will be deployed, such as putting into service the first phase of the “Lakes Route”, which combines the use of the bicycle with the train along the Lleida-la Pobla de Segur line.
Action number 4 in the Regional Action Plan of Catalonia, signed on 30th April 2019 by the Secretary General of this Ministry, constitutes the implementation of a tourist cycle route from Lleida to La Pobla de Segur (train-bike).
It should be taken into account that cycle tourism is a long distance cycling, which means a recreational activity, sporting and non-competitive combining physical activity with exploring the region from a touristic angle. Thus, it becomes an economic engine with great potential in Catalonia. In that meaning, the territorial area between Lleida and La Pobla de Segur has a cycling potential with important possibilities to create the conditions for taking advantage and offering new ways of mobility in this area.
The Ministry of Territory and Sustainability is currently working in the process of configuring the ”Lakes Route” in order to offer a new itinerary that puts into value the territory of the three counties where the cyclist route passes through: Segrià, Noguera and Pallars Jussà in combination with the railway along the Lleida - La Pobla de Segur line.
In total, the route comprises 125 kilometers, of which 98 km have been configured as passable by bike and the remaining 27 km to be covered by train. Once completed, the part passable by bike will be extended to 98 km. The two main itineraries in which it has been divided are the following:
1st Lleida - Balaguer - Sant Llorenç de Montgai (52 km)
2nd Cellers- Llimiana - Tremp - Salàs de Pallàs - la Pobla de Segur (46 km)
The intermediate section between Saint Llorenç de Montgai and Cellers (27 km) through the Montsec Mountains is not passable by bike and will therefore be covered by train.
The route will also connect to the InterCatalunya one (another existing cycle route from Lleida to Girona).
The Ministry of Territory and Sustainability is currently developing the first sections of the route between Lleida and Balaguer (1st itinerary), and between Salàs de Pallars and La Pobla de Segur (2nd itinerary) which will be fully equipped with signposts at the end of this spring.
Finally, it should be noted that this route will use orientation signals that have been specifically designed for this and which are included in the Manual of orientation signage in cycle tourist routes and cyclist paths.
