COWI Hungary recently won a tender to develop the Hungarian sections of EuroVelo, Europe's network of long-distance cycle routes.EuroVelo is a project of the European Cyclists' Federation (ECF) to develop 12 long-distance cycle routes crossing the whole of Europe. When complete, the total length of the routes will be over 60,000 km, of which more than 20,000 km is already in place.
Two routes cross Hungary: route EV6 runs stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Black Sea, taking in the Danube and entering Hungary from Slovakia and exiting to Croatia and Serbia. Route EV11 runs along the rivers Bodrog and Tisza, entering from Slovakia, exiting to Serbia. The total length of the Hungarian section is about 860 km.COWI Hungary, on behalf of the Hungarian Directorate for Road Management and Co-ordination, is evaluating the suitability of existing cycle routes as EuroVelo tracks. This includes designing missing sections of the route, highlighting useful information such as interesting sights and places to stay, and negotiating the paths routes take through various municipalities and neighbouring countries.
Negotiating the routes' border crossings has seen the involvement of another COWI subsidiary, COWI Serbia. The project is the first opportunity for direct cooperation between the two Eastern European subsidiaries.Project Consultant Gergely Kovacs from COWI Hungary said, "Mirko Radovanac at COWI Serbia is negotiating with the authorities in neighbouring countries." Radovanac, a director of COWI Serbia, has first-hand knowledge of EuroVelo issues as he is presently vice-president of ECF, has extensive contacts in both the authorities and bicycle organisations of the countries concerned, and was previously involved in the Serbian sections of EuroVelo.Kovacs adds, "We will prepare draft designs of the routes and propose the border crossing points in Slovakia, Serbia and Croatia. COWI Serbia will contact the countries and negotiate the proposed points."By Martyn GlanvillePublished: 28.07.06