The Italian Federation for the Environment and Cycling (La Federazione Italiana Ambiente e Bicicletta) has awarded 51 yellow flags in 2021 in recognition of the most bike-friendly cities in Italy. Let's see which Italian cities and municipalities make this list.
This initiative to find and reward Italy's best cities for cycling involved more than 140 Italian municipalities (which with almost 9.5 million inhabitants represent 15.64% of the Italian population), while this year's edition was also sponsored by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of the Environment in Italy. The FIAB-ComuniCiclabili award gives localities and their territories a score from 1 to 5 assigned on the basis of various parameters and represented by as many "bike-smiles" on the flag.
To qualify for the award, the municipality must have at least 1 requirement in 3 of the 4 assessment areas:
- "urban mobility" (urban cycling/infrastructure and traffic and speed moderation);
- "governance" (urban mobility policies and services);
- "communication & promotion";
- "cycling tourism".
Alessandro Tursi, the president of FIAB adds that "the pandemic has triggered the cycling revolution that our country had been waiting for. Health has become a priority and cycling makes everyday life healthy, plus it also allows social distancing, which is indispensable as long as the pandemic lasts".
Tursi continues to state that "at institutional level there is also unprecedented attention being paid to the issue of mobility and the development of urban cycling, as demonstrated by Italy's bicycle bonus and new regulations passed in recent months. The introduction of cycle lanes in the Highway Code, more cycle paths in Italy, advanced bike areas at traffic lights, two-way cycling and school roads finally bring us closer to the most virtuous European countries when it comes to travelling by bike".
ComuniCiclabili FIAB accompanies local authorities when it comes to adopting policies in favour of mobility by bike in Italy, evaluating and enhancing what has already been done. Nowadays, more than ever, they are also encouraged to do even better, taking into account the objective change in progress that sees the bicycle as the protagonist of the combination of economic recovery and green conversion.
The 5 new entries in the ComuniCiclabili network, and therefore among Italy's most bike-friendly cities in 2021 are:
- Ancona: 1 bike-smile
- Camisano Vicentino: 3 bike-smiles
- Civitanova Marche: 2 bike-smiles
- Francavilla Fontana: 1 bike-smile
- Sassoferrato: 1 bike-smile
Among the 46 other municipalities already in the network that have renewed their presence in ComuniCiclabili as the best cycling cities in 2021, 13 cities stand out: Turin, Trento, Arezzo, Bergamo, Bolzano, Ferrara, Grosseto, Parma, Pesaro, Piacenza, Pisa and Verona.
A special mention was also given to 3 of the cities on the 2021 list who have improved their score compared to last year: Verona, Desio and Turin have proved themselves to be real protagonists in the ongoing "bike revolution" in Italy. Turin in particular went from 2 to 3 bike-smiles, as well as promptly applying the new rules on cycle lanes and advanced traffic light space for cyclists.
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