ECF EuroVelo Update

Please read the previous post too. Click here.

I have sent an e-mail to the ECF and asked them about the massive amount of unrealised EuroVelo routes. Their response consisted of a definition of a realised route, an explanation why some routes are called non-realised even though they meet all requirements, and an answer to my question whether they need help with putting up EU signposts.

What is the 'realised route' definition

You can call a part of a route realised if: "1. Detailed information available on any website; and  2. Signed with (at least) national signs; and  3. Minimum 50 km (meeting the first 2 criteria)." The stretches of road towards which I have pointed them DO meet all these requirements, which brings me to the next point.

Why are some routes non-realised even though they meet all of the requirements

"...we try to update our database as often as possible, but it is also possible that we missed some developments. Some of our coordinators are more responsive than others." I have already figured this one out beforehand. Maybe it sounds a bit stereotypical but some bureaucrats are ok with being lazy. I will keep an eye out for EV4 and EV6, so we can track the work being done on this project.

Why I cannot help with putting up EU signposts

Question to ECF: can I help putting up signposts?

"No...signposting is the result of a long and complex process (involving EuroVelo members but also local public authorities and/or local organizations) and according to the countries and/or regions, signs can be different. That is why this work is done by our national coordinators and/or partners."

This means that the signposting work has to be coordinated by the same non-responsive bureaucrats (see last paragraph). If you have actually cycled these routes, you will notice that the infrastructure is fine the way it is. The problem does not lie with bicycle paths not meeting requirements. The slow and tedious bureaucratic process is the cause of there not being enough signposts or the website not being updated.

How individuals and/or companies are so far up ahead of the ECF, it actually becomes embarrassing

Nowadays, most people are carrying a GPS tracker in the form of a smartphone. I did some research and found the following website: http://www.bikemap.net/

Here you can make a route and export that route as GPX file. GPX files can be imported in most GPS navigation systems (eg. an app on your Smartphone). That is just great. Not only does this program make use of national bicycle paths, it also enables you to export a GPX file. You do not even have to carry around maps and pieces of paper to navigate your way through Europe.

You can see how it works on the following pictures:

God this is so embarrassing. Look at how extensive this site is in comparison to the bureaucratic monstrosity.

Even the possibility of downloading GPS data.

Ideas for long distance cycling in Europe

EV-Routes

The initiative of the ECF (European Cycling Federation) to connect bicycle routes across Europe seemed like a very good idea, but fails due to a lack of work being done in a timely manner. If you open the website of EuroVelo, you can look at the routes through Europe. Let me tell you that it looks really amazing. Criss-cross through the continent on a bike. Wow!

Open this URL.

Look at this map! Isn't it great to live in Europe?

"Not realised" or "Planned"; what does it mean?

After clicking on EuroVelo Route 4 symbol, I ended up on another screen thereupon that showed me a disappointing sight. Notice how everything is either not realised or planned. I'd estimate 15 % of the entire route being realised. The worst thing is that I know that parts of EV4 actually have good bicycle paths. A cyclist on my Google+ page informed me through a comment that it was a shame that I did not take the route from Köln to Koblenz, as it is quite beautiful. Just to inform you: I came through the Eifel region in stead of Köln, but a cyclist recommending this route means that it is in a good state. Another part that I know of is the route from Wiesbaden/Mainz to Frankfurt. I have actually cycled this track and the path was really, really nice. I thoroughly enjoyed this route - with the exception of the pinch flat before reaching Frankfurt.

Why do they even have this on their website? You have a route from Oostende to Breda or Eindhoven and a path along the French coast. That makes up a really small portion of the actual route. A lot of routes have cycling lanes and local sign posts. Why is it not realised?

A few days ago, I looked up this track and know for sure that there is a bicycle route here. It is called the 'Donauradweg'. It goes from Regensburg to Vienna and even further. I have no idea why that is not realised as of now.

I can only explain the lack of routes being realised because:

1. There are bike paths but ECF never tested these tracks.
2. Maybe some bureaucrats are stalling the process.
3. The website is outdated.
4. Nobody cares about these paths. People will still cycle long distances using national sources.

Alternatives and solutions

Alternatives to planning a long distance tour using the EV-Routes

Alternatives to the EV-routes are unfortunately on a national level. The countries where I've used the resources with regards to long distance cycling have only been available in the native language. This means that I'd either have to use a translation service or guess my way through the site. Sometimes there were alternatives for tourists but these sites were altered slightly (eg. no long distance routes and route planning tool provided).

I am currently making tutorials for planning a cycling route through a specific country. At this point, I've only made the tutorials for Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. I'll make more in the future.

Solutions on a European scale

Things need to be changed to let the EV-routes become as good as they look.

What I think needs to be done:

1. The EV routes have to be realised in full.
2. Data of all EU nations relating to bicycle paths have to be gathered
3. Using this data, it is possible to update the map of EuroVelo and realise the routes
4. Ofcourse these routes have to be cycled and signs have to be put up
5. The EV routes have to be reviewed and tested as well. Bikers who take these routes must have a place to give feedback. If there actually was a forum on http://www.eurovelo.org/forums/, it would be possible to give feedback/suggestions.
6. After realising the EV map and putting up the signs along all routes, I think it is a good idea to make a route-planner on a European level (much like the Dutch site).

Let me explain some of the points made. The stretches of unrealised route HAVE actual bicycle paths. If there are paths, then the only thing missing would be a sign, some approval or the update on the website. Why would that drain so much sources?

The second point speaks for itself. Should the ECF have the data with regards to the bicycle paths of all countries (where EV runs through), realising these routes should be easy. These EV routes have to be cycled by actual cyclists and there should be a possibility to give feedback to ECF.

The last point made deserves some extra attention. Please open the following website: http://www.nederlandfietsland.nl/fietsrouteplanner . It is super detailed bicycle map with a neat function: you can find routes from and to any point in the Netherlands. I know what you are thinking: "on a European level this would be ridiculous." That is certainly true but what if the route planning tool on supranational level only evaluates long distance routes? It would make it possible to make a trip from London to Vienna even though there is no EV route going there.

Look at the picture and you will understand:

The distance here is really incredible. You'll need a lot of time to cover this route.

Anyway, it would be nice to be able to combine various EV-routes through a route planning tool. You can also add functions like estimated time, distance, altitude, calories burned, etc.

If you have some good alternatives, feel free to contact me. I will put em on my site.

UPDATE CLICK HERE TO READ MORE. Good ECF alternative found.

How to plan your bicycle tour through Europe: The Netherlands (Holland)

The Condition of the Dutch Bike Lanes

I would almost say that a page dedicated to planning a trip through the Netherlands seems like an unnecessary thing to do. Why? Because you can pretty much go anywhere on your bicycle. I can assure you that you can get from - and to every corner of the country without any trouble at all. Also, without overreacting I can say that the bicycle paths in the Netherlands are in top condition.

I've already made some photos of the state of Dutch bicycle lanes:

Look at the path. Separated from the street by a bit a grass. In the Netherlands, a helmet is simply not needed. It does not make sense to wear one, as cyclists are very safe and unlikely to have an accident. They hardly ever get themselves between motorized traffic.

Quality of picture is bad, as I was cycling while taking the picture. This is path is really the bare minimum. I would expect the street to be a 30 km/h zone though.

Here you see the bridge to Roermond. The cars are on the left side of the concrete wall. Could it get any safer? Maybe if the wall was made out of titanium in stead.

A few months ago I saw a documentary about cycling. I haven't really been paying close attention at that time. Anyway, it made reference of the Netherlands and Denmark being the top nations when it comes to cycling culture. They explained that both countries have the biggest % of employers going to their jobs per bike and they stated that the services with regards to the bicycle paths (winter road maintenance, repairing cracks in the asphalt, upgrading dirt-roads, and so forth) are the best in Europe.

This fact puts Denmark higher in the list of Countries I'd Like to Cycle (CILC's).


Aaaanywho, I'll give you some instructions and tips on how to plan a bike-tour across Holland. I think it makes sense to plan a semi-circular tour in the Netherlands first. Afterwards, we can plan a tour through the Netherlands to another country. It makes some sense to separate these 2 things, as the resources used might be different.

Cycling in the Netherlands

Resources needed:

• Google maps
• Nederlandfietsland.nl (this is a Dutch site) Fietsrouteplanner
• Nederlandfietsland.nl LF routes

To determine where to go, I'd have to ask a question: Why the Netherlands?

1. Canals, old cities, art
2. Visiting a relative?
3. Beach, Dunes, nature
4. Party, coffeeshops, red light district
5. Just travelling through Holland on my way to Belgium/Germany/UK

Cycling from Amsterdam

The odds are big that you are arriving or going to Amsterdam. For that reason, I will explain how to use a map from the Dutch website of the bicycle association using Amsterdam as a startingpoint.

1. Open this link: Nederlandfietsland.nl (this is a Dutch site) Fietsrouteplanner
2. On the left you see the 'planner', where you can enter a city in the second field ('Amsterdam') and a street in the first field. You can also pick the trainstation in the first field by clicking the arrow and choosing the 3rd option on the popup ("Ingang treinstation").
   
   

   

   From Amsterdam to Leeuwarden via Lelystad.

3. If you press "Bereken de route", which means calculate the route, you'll get some cool statistics regarding the route.
   

   

   160 km trip from Amsterdam to Leeuwarden. Better do this in 2 hops.

Cycling the LF routes

1. Go to this website: http://www.nederlandfietsland.nl/en/long-distance-cycle-routes/gps-tracks 
2. Here you can find a list of all LF routes with GPS tracks

Biking from the Netherlands to another country

If you are planning a long-distance bicycle tour from the Netherlands (going to another country), you'll have to do some research with regards to the path to the other country you'll take.

More info coming soon!

How to plan your bicycle tour through Europe: Germany

Planning a bicycle trip through Europe (Deutschland und Österreich)

Problems that will arise when planning your long distance tour through Europe lie within the fact that you are travelling through different countries, where different policies/resources with regards to biking paths are available. I will try to show you various ways of planning a trip through the many different countries Europe has to offer.

Let's start with Germany! I'm going through this process step by step, so you can replicate the process for other destinations using the data and resources provided.

Step 1: Get a crude estimation of your bicycle trip through the European continent

A crude estimation starts with a city/area to start and finish. Where to start and finish is ofcourse depending on various factors (time, location, difficulty, etc.). Throughout this tutorial on how to plan a bicycle trip through Europe, I will use a fictitious couple as an example. They don't have children and live in Regenstauf, Bavaria. Let's call the man Fritz and the woman Claudia.

Fritz and Claudia both have 3 weeks vacation and are planning to make a bicycle trip. The trip should be low-budget, sportive (enduring) and without much steep hills. They wish to see big, historic cities and want to enjoy the countryside as well.

Step 1.1: Time

An important factor that plays a role in deciding where to go is time. Plan carefully how long and when you are going on a bicycle trip.

Step 1.2: Location

The location is related to time. If you do not have lots of time, you cannot waste it on getting somewhere far away. That's why you can look for a nice destination closer at home. If our couple, Fritz and Claudia, would be short on time, they'd look for the closest city (Regensburg) nearby and cycle from there on out.

Step 1.3: Bike route

Knowing the starting location, you can try to make a carefull estimation. I will show you how to estimate correctly using examples of our fictional couple from Regenstauf.

As you can see from the map, there are lots of possible destinations from Regensburg.

I've picked Vienna, Austria and entered it on Google maps. If you look at the map, I've written DONAU. The Danube flows through Regensburg and I know that there are always cycle paths nearby a river.

If you know anything about Regensburg, you know that a big river, namely the Donau, flows through it. This is a big advantage when it comes to cycling, as the changes in altitude are smaller alongside a river. There are also bicycle lanes next to most of them, which means that you will not be confronted all too often with car traffic.

That being said, you will notice that the suggested road is not alongside the Danube. By clicking on the road, you'll see a dot appear, which you can hover over the desired stretch of road.

As you can see, I corrected the road a bit and it shows 20 km more.

Step 1.4: Accommodation

Look at the altitude of your ride, estimate the amount of km you will reach in a particular day based on the altitude, and try to find hotels/hostels around the maximum amount of km you'll manage to cover. Example: Fritz and Claudia think they can reach 80 km on their first day to Vienna.

Fritz and Claudia estimate that they will reach Deggendorf in one day.

Now zoom in on the destination (not too close!). Make sure you still see some surrounding villages. Follow the instructions on the second picture.

Here you see Deggendorf. Press X and enter 'hotel' in the Google Maps search field.

Voila! Lots of hotels nearby Deggendorf. You can make a list of hotels with the best prices and call them the day itself. Maybe call 2 hotels beforehand and ask if there are still rooms vacant for the day you will be arriving. Just to be sure.

Now that Fritz and Claudia have estimated their first day and the route itself, they can really start to plan the trip itself.

Step 2: Planning the route (more accurately)

Seeing that I've taken a German pair taking a route through Germany and Austria, I'll have to use the resources from these countries. Good thing that I speak German, as that means that I can provide you with the information needed to look for biking routes.

Needed websites:
German: Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad-Club ADFC (German Cyclist’s Association)
Austrian: http://www.fahr-radwege.com/Donauradweg.htm

Step 2.1: Accurate route through Germany (Regensburg - Passau)

From Regensburg to Passau

Open the website of the ADFC. It is a direct link to a map with all the cycling routes through Germany. If you see the map (see picture below), you can look for cycling routes nearby. Hover over a number to see the road litten up. I've found the "Donauradweg", which goes from 'Schwarzwald' (Donaueschingen) to Passau (Passau is on the Austrian border). To make sure that the path passes a city nearby, I click on the route and press 'Sehenswert' on the next page (see screenshot).

I think Regensburg is around here. Click it.

Then click on Sehenswert and look on the list. If there is a name of a city or town nearby, you can take this 'fahrradweg' (bicycle lane).

Seeing that our pair will depart from Regensburg, this bike path is ideal, as it goes passed the city.

Step 2.2: Accurate route through Austria (Passau - Vienna)

From Passau to Wien (Vienna)

I've googled a bit and found a website where you can find maps of different stages of the route. If you want to do some research yourself with regards to the resources available, enter the following keywords in the search field: Radwegen Oesterreich .

On www.Fahr-radwege.com you can find the Donauradweg from Passau to Vienna. The good thing about this website is that you can download the route from Passau to Vienna in 5 different stages:

	Passau - Mauthausen	125 km
	Mauthausen - Persenbeug	64 km
	Persenbeug - Krems	62,8 km
	Krems - Tulln	49,9 km
	Tulln - Wien Donauinsel	36,3

The list above is from http://www.fahr-radwege.com/Donauradweg.htm .

Step 2.3: Merge both routes and research minor detours

You can merge both routes together and start looking for activities on your way to your destination. For example, Fritz's uncle lives 20 km north from Passau. Maybe he'd like to pay him a visit. If he would like that, he'd have to adjust the route they are willing to take.

Using google maps (bike directions), he can plan his detour like this:

He knows where his path is, as he just has to follow the Donau (blue line on the map). The normal route would go straight through Passau, but Fritz wants to go passed Ruderting. He using a point somewhere next to the danube and looks for directions to Ruderting.

Result from that point, it is 34,8km to Ruderting.

From Ruderting back on the road to Wien is another 13,7 km.

If you would have gone to Passau in one go, it would be 35,8 km. The detour would only imply an extra 12,7 km. Fritz will do this detour, as it will only cost him a short hour more.

Step 3: Making choices for your bicycle trip

Give yourself some thought regarding the following questions.

• Should I sleep in a Tent, Hostel, Hotel or Pension? 
• When to book, where to book and how to book? 
• What are the preferred minimum/maximum prices for rooms?
• Where to eat (restaurant, outside, park, riverside, etc), what to eat (snack, breakfast, dinner, lunch) and when to eat (at what time in which city, town or region)?
• Should we be booking and planning everything beforehand (reserving every hotel at every hop), semi-spontaneous (booking only the first [few] day[s]) or spontaneous (only pre-gathering information regarding hotels in a certain vicinity)?
  
  I think this question is extra important, as it might change the whole idea of a trip. I'll give some examples of how the way you book influences your whole trip. If you are staying in a tent, it is very spontaneous where you'll stay. You can plan campings beforehand but that would be taking all of the adventure out of it.
  
  Should you stay in hotels, then I'd recommend booking your rooms semi-sponteously. You can book the first 2 days and can book day 3 on day 1. That way, you have the flexibility to estimate the distance you can cover in 2 days. eg. you are a lot faster than you'd imagined at first. That could mean that you want to book the next hotels a bit further along the road as initially planned. If you haven't planned everything beforehand, you are able to increase or decrease the distance you travel per day. That is a huge advantage over people thoroughly planning everything.
  
  The fully spontaneous type makes lists of hotels in a vicinity or where he might get in one day at every hop. He/she takes note of the names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses. While cycling the tour, this type of person will contact some of the hotels per phone, asking if there is still a vacant room. Ofcourse the hotels/hostels/pensions he/she'll contact will be based on the estimation of the km that will be covered that day. Having access to a German (and Austrian) 3G network is a huge advantage, as it allows you to look up possible hotels in real-time.
• Packing everything you might need (like a stereotypical woman) or just the bare essentials (like a stereotypical male)?
• Bicycle gear; what is needed (only repair kit + pump or also an extra tire/tube?)

Eupen to Regensburg. Day 3: Koblenz to Frankfurt

Information regarding the cycling route from Koblenz to Frankfurt am Main

After a surprisingly good night sleep without nightmares of clowns torturing me, I had breakfast and did research as to which route I should take from here on out. From Koblenz-Ehrenbreitstein, it seemed like the best idea to go to Koblenz-Pfaffendorf and to take the cycle path to Nassau (over Lahnstein and Bad Ems). The path leads alongside the Rhine up until the Rhine gets joined by a tributary (a sub river joining a main river), namely the 'Lahn'. If you are going to travel from Koblenz to Frankfurt, you'll have to go to Koblenz-Pfaffendorf , to Lahnstein along the Rhine, to Bad Ems along the Lahn, and then over Nassau and on the B260 to Wiesbaden/Mainz. This implies that the route from Nassau is over the Bundesstraße. There might be alternatives but I haven't looked at them yet.

Here's a map for you to look at. I drew a bit on it to make it easier to understand. Might do that more from now on.

The path to Lahnstein and Nassau have good bike signs. However, if you lose track, you will have a hard time finding it again.

The next map explains the rest of the route.

As you can see, the B260 is quite long and leads all the way up to Wiesbaden. I would really like to find an alternative for this stretch of road in particular. Not only because the street is actually made for cars and not for bikes, also because the change in altitude (suddenly peaking on 543 m before getting down on the 66m again) seems like something you can bypass with a slightly different route.

In Wiesbaden, you can already see the Frankfurt bicycle signs stating that it is only more 40 km to go. Tip: once you've lost the trail, it could be gone for a while. I have lost it and it took me a while before I could get back on track. I think that my detour was about 6 km.

Flat tire AGAIN and 20 km to Frankfurt

About 20 km before Frankfurt, I've gotten a flat tire AGAIN. This was just unbelievable. Before going on this trip, I've patched my old bicycle tube and it was good to go. I've already cycled over 70 km with the patched tire from Mönchengladbach to Tongeren, and on the first day of the 6-day trip, the tube got a hole again (in Schöneseiffen). Fixed it that day and the next day it got deflated again. I've bought a new one tube in Blankenheim (beginning of day 2), cycled 2 full days (day 2 and day 3) and the new bicycle tube got punctured as well.

Now you have to imagine cycling the full 110 km from Koblenz (almost) to Frankfurt and doing the last 20 km by foot, carrying a bike which has a flat tire once a day on average. Me not hurling this bicycle into the Main was a true test of self control. Anyway, I walked to the city centre of Frankfurt am Main and arrived at the train station at 1:00AM. On my way there, I saw groups of youngster smoking pot in the park, which seemed like fun, but I was too tired. Moving further towards the train station of Frankfurt, things started to look more grim, as I saw - in stead of young people drinking beer and smoking pot - a thin, hollow-cheeked womed who - as far as I could tell from a short glance - was smoking crack or crystal meth.

Impressions, photos, routes and experiences

My condition today was optimal. The stiffness of my muscles is in sharp contrast with yesterday, as everything felt unstrained and relaxed. I did not have to patch or change a tube in the morning, nor did I have to take the train to somewhere. I just got up, showered, ate, got ready to leave and left the hotel at something like 10:00 AM.

Moving from Ehrenbreitstein to Ko-Pfaffendorf.

Going towards the Rhine.

Leaving Pfaffendorf and entering Horcheim

Looking at Koblenz from afar.

Here you see fortress Ehrenbreitstein.

The Rhine.

I am now looking in the direction I should go (more or less). If I would have looked to the right, I'd see Koblenz.

Cycling along the Rhine is actually quite nice.

The stream you see here is the 'Lahn'.

The state of the paths here are not perfect but that's ok. After a few km it got better.

I am currently on my way to Bad Ems.

Lots of nature surrounding you here.

Also lots of caravans and tents as well.

Not sure if this is Friedland, Miellen or Friedrichssegen.

This could be either Friedland, Miellen or Friedrichssegen.

It took a while to cycle passed all the caravans. Appearantly a favoured holliday destination.

Just arrived in Miellen (sign left)

Just entered Bad Ems.

What Bad Ems has to offer: hotels, restaurants, resorts and ... The Beatles Museum.

Welcome! Spa with tradition - Wellness and leasure resort.

Bad Ems at the Lahn

Making a small break shortly after Bad Ems, before reaching Nassau.

Cycle path from Bad Ems to Nassau

"Nassau
Rhein-Lahn-Kreis"

Koblenz 25km; Bad Ems 9km - Wiesbaden 45km; Holzhausen 14km; Singhofen 5km

On my way to Singhofen, there was a really steep hill up ahead. I had to take a break somewhere in the middle.

After climbing the hill, I've reached flat land again.

I had to flip the photo but it somehow looks cool.

Took a break and had something to eat/drink...

... before reaching Singhofen.

I have never heard of towns like Niedertiefenbach (population: 210) and Lollschied (population: 209) but appearantly, they deserve a city name, a reference on a sign and a wiki entry (google it).

After Singhofen, there were a few hills like this up ahead. Downhill in 21st and going up in 4th or so.

Going over the hill.

And back down.

Reaching Holzhausen a.d.H. (Holzhausen an der Haide)

Never thought I would end up doing the H1 wander route almost 4x with a bicycle in my hand at the end of the day.

No idea what the Limesturm is. Did not bother looking for it.

CLICK THE PICTURE TO ENLARGE! There are bullet holes in the sign of Hessen. Seriously.

Arriving in Martins' thal. Part of Eltville am Rhein.

Wine grapes in Martinsthal.

Nature reserve.

Port in Wiesbaden Schierstein I think.

Wiesbaden stadtteil Biebrich

Route 3 and Route 15. I will lose both of em.

FYI: Wiesbaden is the state capitol of Hessen.

Still on the right track.

A view of Mainz from Wiesbaden.

Still not lost.

I think that everything went wrong from this point. There should have been a direction with "Frankfurt Hbf" or "Frankfurt Center".

Arriving in Flörsheim.

Weilbach

I have inflated the tire several times already...

I had no idea this was the wrong direction.

Wrong,wrong, wrong...

Still walking with a flat tire...

Note: look at the seat. That seat cushion was a total waste of money and I should have known it beforehand.

Walking the dirt-road.

Appearantly Frankfurt also has cloud factories. Look at the factory on the left, producing clouds for everyone to enjoy.

Bicycle tour around the industrial area of Frankfurt. No joke.

Still walking.

No more battery. I think it was R10 again.

Arriving at the train station

What a beautiful arrival in Frankfurt! First I've somehow lost the cycling path, then my tire got punctured, and finally a lady salutes me by torching her pipe filled with junk. I would've gone to Bavaria the next day (probably from Frankfurt to Würzburg) and if I had to bet on the wheel holding out after mending it, my odds would've looked bad. That being said, I took the first train home and aborted the last 2-3 days of the trip. If nothing went wrong, I could have cycled from Frankfurt to Würzburg, Würzburg to Nürnberg, Nürnberg to Regensburg.

Looking for a train connection to Regensburg, I've only found the following:
from Frankfurt to Würzburg
Würzburg to Nürnberg
Nürnberg to Neustadt
Neustadt to Regensburg (arrival 12:00)

I was trying to relax this muscle. Impossible.

Reached Frankfurt Bahnhof and did the last part of the route per train. I did not want to bother with that tire again. I'll do that before the next time I'll make a massive trip.

If only this were the last train I took that day... I got home at 12:00.