PROJECT NAME

 

“Establishment of the border bicycle route at the former post road on the Curonian Spit: EUROVELO – BALTIKA”.

 

AREA OF THE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

The Project is being implemented on the territory of the National Park “Kurshskaya Kosa” in the Kaliningrad region. The National Park is a protected natural area with the federal status and at the same time it is the main place of tourist attraction in the Kaliningrad region. In the year 2000 the uniqueness of the Curonian Spit was acknowledged by entering it in the UNESCO World Heritage List as a common international Russian-Lithuanian object.

Another national park (“Kuršių nerija”) has also been created on the territory of the Lithuanian part of the Curonian Spit peninsula. This park has a developed tourism infrastructure including a continuous bicycle route 49 km long, which connects the administrative center of Neringa – city of Nida – to the northern end of the peninsula (settlement of Smiltene) and is included into the system of the EUROVELO bicycle routes girdling the Europe.

In the southern part of the Curonian Spit, which belongs to Russia, the EUROVELO route does not have its continuation.

 

GENERAL PROJECT OBJECTIVES

 

Cooperation in the frontier integration of cultural and natural heritage on the territory of the Curonian Spit.

Settlement of the frontier cooperation in tourism, education, ecology and other sectors.

Immediate (short-term) objective: creation of the conditions necessary for the development of the frontier tourism through elaboration of technical documentation for construction of the bicycle route which will unite Russia and Lithuania and in the course of time will fill the missing section of the international bicycle route “EuroVelo” (Poland, Russia, Lithuania).

 

ACTIVITY

 

Elaboration of technical documentation for construction of the bicycle route on the Russian part of the Curonian Spit.

Introduction of suggestions on facilitation of the visa system for bicycle tourists on the Curonian Spit.

Analysis of Lithuanian experience in organization of the infrastructure for servicing of bicycle routes.

Distribution of the Project results.

 

PROJECT HISTORICAL CONTEXT

 

Bicycle route on the Curonian Spit will pass at the old post road with a rich history. More than for one hundred and fifty years (XVII - XVIII centuries) it was a vital road connecting Europe to the Baltic States and Russia. Historical context of the planned bicycle route will enrich it with information on the cultural heritage and make it more attractive to consumers of tourism services.

 

TARGET GROUPS:

 

1. National parks of the Curonian Spit "Kurshskaya Kosa" and "Kuršių Nerija".

2. Municipalities of the Curonian Spit.

3. Visitors to the Curonian Spit.

4. Tourist companies involved in servicing tourists on the Curonian Spit.

5. The population of the Curonian Spit.

 

PROJECT TIMING:

 

20 April 2007 – 20 October 2008.

 

FINANCING

 

The Project is financed by the EU Programme “Neighborhood: Lithuania, Poland and the Kaliningrad region of the RF” (Project 2007/138-267), as well as from the funds of the project partners.

Records, performed in the project

 

"Environmental assessment of the National Park "Kurshskaya Kosa" (V.P. Bogachev, Professor, Associate Professor of geoecology of Kant RSU, MANEB corresponding member, Project consultant for the Environment Protection and Sustainable Development).

 

The report examines the current environmental situation in the Park with a focus on the problems impeding the development of cycling in its territory. Review the current situation was made on the basis of an integrated ecosystem approach, taking into account the interaction between ecosystems of the Spit and the Curonian Gulf. Based on an analysis of cause-effect connection of degradation of the National Park "Kurshskaya Kosa" ecosystems, a "tree" of problems was made, allowing the TACIS project participants to formulate coherent goals and to develop further major activities in their achievement.

 

"Determination of the optimal location of the planned bicycle route on the territory of the National Park "Kurshskaya Kosa" in conditions of a functional zoning" (A.I. Klochko, L.N. Sosedova, G.N. Kostenkova, A.D. Schulz, NP "Kurshskaya Kosa").

 

The report was made by the staff of the National Park "Kurshskaya Kosa", highly qualified forestry experts. Work on the choice of planned bicycle route based on the experience of Lithuanian colleagues from the National Park "Kuršių Nerija".

Ensuring interaction of environmental activities in different functional areas of the National Park with recreational, economic and research programs was taken into account in choosing the route.

Ease of layout situation due to the natural configuration of the National Park territory defined the clarity of planning solutions. In its basis lies historical planning system, which stipulates for the use and development of the existing roads, cutting, playgrounds, recreation, in the light of visits to places of interest for inspection and review.

The outcome of the National Park experts’ work became two variants of the bicycle route.

 

"Prospects for development and achieving sustainability of the Project "Establishment of the border bicycle route at the old post road on the Curonian Spit - EUROVELO-BALTIKA" (D.Ofitserov)

 

The report made by the consultant in the Project promotion focuses on the integration of the planned bicycle route in the context of European bicycle routes through learning experience in the development of cycling tourism and related infrastructure in Europe, Lithuania, Poland and the Kaliningrad region of the RF, assessing the current state of the tourism concerned, analyzing opportunities for development of cycling on the Curonian Spit, taking into account the interests of local authorities and community, developing set of proposals for possible inclusion of the EUROVELO-BALTIKA route into the cross-border routes, including those within the "Ganzeyskoe koltso" (“Hanseatic Ring”) Project.

 

"Recommendations on the establishment of the bicycle route on the Curonian Spit, taking into account the progressive European experience" (N. Borgens)

 

The report, completed by the consultant in bicycle routes servicing (Germany), contains, in addition to the review of international development experience of cycling (including Poland, Lithuania, Germany), information on the criteria for choosing the route, of the types of construction, technical aspects and details of bicycle routes facilities, characteristics of pavement and direction signs used in Europe in the construction of bicycle routes.