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After the Ciclovia dell’Appennino, Clorofilla it has also been chosen by the Ciclovia Parchi Calabria (Cycle Path of Calabria Parks) and the network of cycle-tourism routes “In bici a pelo d’acqua” ((By bike on the surface of the water) to enrich their range of services aimed at the increasingly numerous cyclists and cycle tourists.

The Ciclovia dei Parchi della Calabria crosses three different natural parks: Sila, Pollino, and the Serre Park. It was awarded the Italian Cyclotourism Oscar in 2021 (jointly with the Trento region) and is currently one of the flagship routes in the Italian cycling network.
The Calabria region has made a significant effort to design and promote this route, which unfolds through enchanting and ever-changing landscapes and little-known villages of wondrous beauty and great hospitality.

Soon, its 545 km of cycle paths and secondary roads will be equipped with 20 customized Clorofilla Power stations featuring the logo of the  Cycle Path Parchi della Calabria. The charging stations will be available to anyone riding on the path to provide free charging for their e-bikes and tools for minor repairs and emergency adjustments.

To discover this cycle path of majestic beauty, we invite you to watch the short film produced by Bike Italia, “The Predators of the Lost Cycle Path: Mission Calabria,” which narrates a bike journey through this region.”

Also, the Piedmontese network called “In bici a pelo d’acqua” will soon be equipped with 27 Clorofilla Basic and Trail bike stations, which will be installed along the numerous paths that make up this trail network. In total, we are talking about 270 km divided into different itineraries that connect Italy to Switzerland, following the common thread of numerous watercourses and lakes in this vast foothill area.

For Clorofilla, it is a great honor and satisfaction to see the growth of cycle tourism infrastructure in Italy, intercepting a movement that is increasingly on the rise, with a spirit that aims to add value to territories beyond the routes of traditional tourism. For these territories, cycle tourism can represent an opportunity for renewal and growth while respecting their nature and caring for the environment.

We truly believe that traveling by bike is perhaps the best way to learn this care for the territory and for ourselves through a more genuine and immediate contact with the environment around us.

For more information on these destinations, we invite you to visit the websites cicloviaparchicalabria.it and inbiciapelodacqua.it.

A growing phenomenon for several years, bicycle-related tourism has literally exploded after the pandemic, with many people rediscovering a different form of travel—one more connected to experiences and emotions than to the “consumption” of destinations and offers.

From the bikepacker setting off from home on their bike to the tourist choosing two wheels for a day trip, there are many forms of bike travel that contribute to the overall impact of cycle tourism in Italy.

According to the report by ISNART, carried out in collaboration with Unioncamere and Legambiente, in 2022, there were 33 million overnight stays linked to cycle tourism in Italy, accounting for 4% of the country’s tourism, with an economic impact of 4.1 billion euros.

To strengthen and retain this flow of tourists and extend it to areas that are still lagging behind in this regard, it is important to work on multiple fronts, from infrastructure to the culture of hospitality and operator training. Services catering to cyclists are also crucial, as cyclists tend to choose facilities and operators capable of providing extra attention to those who opt for cycling.

For an establishment located near a road frequented by cyclists, a cycle path, or a destination particularly sought after by cyclists, there are many measures that can change the perception and make it more attractive to cyclists deciding where to turn. Having adequate space for bicycle parking or storage, for example, is essential.

For cycle tourists, the bike is the means upon which the success of the journey depends, often an expensive mode of transportation equipped with carefully selected accessories and equipment. Leaving it in an open basement or, worse, not having a place to park during lunch break is a reason for not choosing a hotel or a restaurant. On the other hand, additional amenities such as providing tools for quick repairs, an air pump, or a charging station for electric bikes are reasons to choose to stop there.

Foto: Riccione Piadina

Being prepared and well-equipped makes the cyclist feel anticipated and welcome, and this makes a difference. The experience they take home, share on social media, and talk about, generating word-of-mouth, which is beneficial for the cycle tourism movement, depends more on the hospitality than the location. In Romagna, a flourishing tourism industry has been built on this principle, making hospitality and services the flagship of a coast that may not boast the most beautiful sea in Italy.

In Romagna, experiences of hotels that have been working with cycle tourism for years demonstrate the enormous potential of this sector. However, these are isolated experiences of those who have understood the importance of a certain level of care for cyclist customers. This means that there is still much to be done, but also that, for those who seize the opportunity, the future looks promising.

Clorofilla firmly believes in a tourism that has a lesser impact on the environment, capable of moving people and helping them understand the beauty of traveling by bike and discovering the gentle rhythm of cycling. This is how traveling becomes a form of education. We, too, are cycle tourists, and we stand alongside those who believe in hospitality that cares for people’s well-being and the idea of giving meaning to the journey. As always, the bike is a powerful tool. We empower people to use it to make the world a better place.

Happy summer and happy holidays to everyone from Clorofilla.

On March 9th, the CIE Summit, annual assembly of the Cycling Industries Europe (CIE) association, which brings together the cycling industries in Europe, was held in Brussels.

CIE is a young association that was born a few years ago and complements the historic Conebi (Confederation of the European Bicycle Industry), founded in 1960. It aims to represent the voice of the cycling business in Europe and around the world.

Industry and politics move in the same direction at CIE Summit

Unlike other similar organizations, CIE has a cross-cutting vision of the bicycle as a catalyst for different types of activities that go beyond the production of bicycles and components, to encompass infrastructure and services related to cycling, cycle tourism, intermodal transportation, and more.
This service-oriented vision of the bicycle was at the center of the March 9th CIE summit, which saw the participation of Clorofilla’s management.

Clorofilla is finalizing its membership in CIE, which will allow the young Cesena-based brand to connect with international partners to provide products and expertise for services that are increasingly suitable for cyclists.
Cyclists are predicted to be the real protagonists in the coming years, as evidenced by the recent approval by the European Parliament of a resolution defining a Cycling Strategy for Europe, which aims to double the use of bicycles in Europe by 2030.

The CIE Summit was opened by the authoritative voice of the Vice-President of the European Union, Frans Timmermans, alongside the European Parliament member Karima Delli, responsible for the Cycling Strategy resolution, and Vice-Premier and Minister of Transport of Belgium, Georges Gilkinet.
Their speeches on behalf of the EU and member countries were very clear in defining a common direction for European policies in the coming years.

A long-sighted view from the EU

Timmermans emphasized the need to have a forward-looking perspective, quoting Dutch author Diana Vreeland:
“To stay balanced, you must move forward. You must have an unshakable faith in your bike.You must keep your eyes on the goal.”
He also noted that “the bicycle is finally recognized as a means of transport in its own right and will be the only one capable of allowing Europe to meet the commitments of the Green Deal with the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, the improvement of air quality, and so on.”

In addition to the environmental benefits, the bicycle will also have a significant social impact, with the creation of new jobs (one million expected by 2030), the decongestion of cities, and the impact on people’s health, economic savings for citizens and the planet, and more.

Timmermans observed that the mentality of younger generations is ready to embrace this change, and that the bicycle has become the fastest means of transportation for daily commutes, particularly in cities like Brussels.
However, there is still much to be done to make cycling safer, starting with the realisation of infrastructures and implementation of services.

Frans Timmermans has announced the approval of a European Cycling Declaration

In his speech at the CIE Summit, Timmermans added an important piece to the policies supporting the cycling sector, anticipating the approval in the coming months of a European Cycling Declaration.

The document will contain the principles and objectives of the changes that will need to be made in the coming years, as well as the details of the actions and tools that Europe, and consequently the Member States, will implement to achieve these goals. This includes concrete financing methods and defining the proportions of interventions to be implemented, such as doubling the available cycling infrastructure.

Schools, shopping centers, and private buildings will, for example, need to include bicycle services, and the Declaration will ensure that wherever it is possible to introduce a strategy to promote cycling, it will be done.

Timmermans didn’t hide a forecoming sesason of discomfort for everyone as an inevitable consequence of a great change in our habits. In this regard his speech at CIE Summit sounded like a call to action for everyone.

Karima Delli: no more chitchat but concrete actions

French European deputy Karima Delli reiterated the importance of the bicycle as a means of transportation and stated that we have entered a historical moment in which we can no longer afford to waste time on discussions but must act quickly for change.

With a pragmatic view of the issue, she emphasized how environmental and social issues go hand in hand with economic issues, as in the future it will be increasingly important to convert jobs to sustainable and growing sectors.
Her motto was: “When it’s good for the climate it’s good for the job.”

The intervention of Belgian Vice-Premier and Minister of Transport Georges Gilkinet followed closely, for whom the bicycle is “the fastest way to happiness” and the best way to connect with the world.

As a passionate cyclist, Gilkinet has provenhow the approach to cycling can change and can acquire relevance and importance at various levels.
In Belgium, Gilkinet has transformed cycling into a federal competency, exactly as it happens for means of transportation such as trains and planes, through the BE Cyclist project.

The project is the result of work carried out in close contact with other ministries (economy, justice, etc.) that will allow many more people to cycle in Belgium thanks to concrete measures.
These include, for example, kilometre incentives for bike-to-work granted at the state level, more bike spaces available on all trains, and harsher penalties for bike theft.

These concrete actions, previously only implemented locally, must be transformed into regional and then federal initiatives through what Gilkinet has defined as the European Bike Revolution.

The goal according to Kevin Mayne is to create a European cycling ecosystem

“Business as usual will not create a sustainable, safe, and reliable European mobility ecosystem. We have demonstrated that cycling can double, and we have more potential to create jobs than any other mobility sector,” said Kevin Mayne, CEO of Cycling Industries Europe, in his powerful statement following Minister Gilkinet’s speech.

Mayne recognized the importance of political interventions as a crucial milestone and necessary endorsement for the cycling industry, which is now called upon to produce the expected result.
According to Mayne, we are no longer at the point where politicians recognize the importance of cycling but postpone addressing it because of more urgent issues.
The bike has finally become a priority for them too.

This idea must be spread as the goal is to bring more people on bikes, more women, more seniors, more children, providing more parking, more bike paths and more bicycles. Bikes must become cheaper, including electric ones, which will allow more people to access the use of two wheels.

For Mayne, the path ahead is still to be traveled, but the goal must be to create a European cycling ecosystem. It is a “hard, difficult, and significant” task, deserving dedication and conviction.

Such an inspiring speech by @MayneKevin from @Cycling_Ind_EU to kick off our second panel of the day, dedicated to the #EuropeanCyclingStrategy 🚲🚲🚲#CIE2023Summit brings the heat! 🔥🍃 https://t.co/aO41sLgx8s pic.twitter.com/rYJ4UFC0yQ

— POLIS (@POLISnetwork) March 9, 2023

A world of connected and sustainable services

The rest of the day at CIE Summit confirmed the maturity of the cycling system in Europe, with the intervention of numerous members who defined a unitary vision in which the concepts of connectivity, sustainability, and trust prevail.

According to Anna Buchmann of Noca Mobility, we are going through an exciting moment where we have moved from a general intent of collaboration to a clear vision of how this collaboration can be expressed in the exchange of data and information among companies.
She also observed how sustainability issues must be addressed in detail, without hiding behind the nature of the bike as a green object.
Supply chains must be verified, suppliers must be verified, materials must be verified, and everything that can guarantee a healthy and transparent industry.

Raymond Gente of the PON group reiterated the importance of seizing the moment to demonstrate the reliability of the industrial system and confirm its ability to interact with political forces to produce the expected results.
The convergence of economic and political visions is, in fact, of fundamental importance, but there is still a problem of trust, so the industry must be able to justify the investment of the political part in the cycling world.

Collaboration and development

The impression taken from the CIE Summit on March 9th is undoubtedly that of a decisive moment for the world of cycling.
In a few years, it will be evident whether the desired turning point by politics and economic actors will be really possible.

Our feeling is that the levels of trust and competence are high, and above all, there is a (rare) sense of collaboration among different entities working towards a common goal, also thanks to the work of the CIE.

Clorofilla also understands the importance of this networking that fits into the perspective of a different economic growth not only looking to immediate profit but considering the social role that each operator plays in the current context.
This has always been the philosophy of Buratti Meccanica, and with the intervention in a strategic sector for change such as cycling through its Clorofilla brand, the company aims to make it at the heart of its mission.

In 2023 Clorofilla joins Euromobility, the Italian Association of Mobility Managers.
Standing besides firms and public administrations already activre in the field of sustainaible mobility, Clorofilla puts its experience to the service of a more bike-friendly country.

Who are mobility managers

The so-called “Decreto rilancio” (“Restart Decree”) of 2020 (Law 17th July 2020, n. 77) introduced the obligation for all private and public subjects having more than 100 emlployees and situated in cities with more than  50.000 inhabitants to adopt an home-work commuting plan.
This plan aims to define a strategy to facilitate the commuting of personnel and avoid urban traffic congestion.

Therefore a mobility manager has to be designated with competences useful in contributing to the decisional process, the programming, definition and realisation of the commuting plan.
It is thus clear that the figures of mobility managers will be more and more requested and present in the working field, as more and more competences about sustainable mobility will be more and more necessary.
Euromobility Association is involved in training on these themes since its constitution in 2000, when the mobility manager was defined by the law but not yet mandatory a role.
IN 2011 it was designated by the Ministry of Environment and Safeguard of Territory and Sea as the National Focal Point for Italy in EPOMM – European Platform on Mobility Management.

What does Euromobility do? 

Today the Association takes care of the relationships around sustainable mobility with the national and international institutions, by promoting meetings, events, symposiums and projects of awareness and education in schools, such as Annibale, il Serpente Sostenibile.
It also gives courses and workshops on themes such as mobility management, quality of air, cycling mobility etc.
Every year it organises two conferences on mobility, MobyDixit and the national conference on PUMS for planning urban mobility and in particular on Sustainable Mobility Urban Plans.

It supports private firms and public administrations in the redaction of home-work commuting planes and for the introduction of sustainable mobility services.
It realizes surveys and campaigns of monitoring to estimate the impact of sustainable mobility on the quality of the environment and it gives technical and scientific support to research in the field and manages two observatories, PUMS and Osservatorio 50 Città.

Why Clorofilla enters Euromobility

By joining the Association Clorofilla aims to contribute with its know-how and its products to the diffusion of a culture of sustainable mobility involving both private and public actors at large.
Moreover, by signing a convention with Euromobility, Clorofilla makes cheaper and immediate the purchase of products that can be useful to implement areas and services dedicated to cycling.
Furthermore, the participation of Clorofilla team to the events and seminars organised by Euromobility will make us more capable of fulfilling the needs of users and to develop a deeper knowledge of problems linked to sustainable mobility that could be useful both in consulting activities and in developing new and more adequate solutions.

With a recently signed agreement officialized during the annual plenary assembly held on December 1st, Clorofilla becomes sponsor of  Finale Outdoor Region (FOR)  for 2023 together with Bosch, as main sponsor, Ship to cycle e Futurenergy.
Finale Outdoor Region is a private consortium of the hospitality, food & beverage, beach and outdoor operators in the Finalese area with the aim to promote, safeguard and enhance the territory starting right from the outdoor activities that have made Finale Ligure an important brand throughout the world.

The owner Lorenzo Buratti on stage with Enrico Guala during the presentation to FOR Consortium

The presence of Clorofilla in Finale Ligure is the result of human relationships that were born before professional ones. Relationships that have created in the many years during which we have been visiting this territory as passionate bikers, thus falling in love with its territory and testifying its evolution.
The huge effort displayed by FOR Consortium is born from a group of long-sighted people who thirty years ago have bet on the potential of the  outdoor activities, and in particular on mtb and e-mtb world as a flywheel for the growth of all the territory.

The exceptional numbers presented during the annual assembly of the consortium testify how good their vision was. A vision that  has made Finale Ligure one of the most craved destinations for bikers all over the world, with several other realities looking at it as an example of good practices and innovative ideas for sports tourism.
Clorofilla  recognizes itself in the values behind this vision that sees the presence of cyclists on the territory as a reason of sustainable growth, safeguard and enhancing, not of exploiting.

The sponsor agreement provides visibility to Clorofilla through the several communication channels activated by FOR, beyond a direct relationship with the members of the consortium.
The sponsorship also comes through the installation of Clorofilla  Power station and a  Liana rack  in the Outdoor Base of Finale Ligure.

Outdoor Base info point in Finale Ligure is an essential referee for all the riders

Info point and starting point for the bike shuttle and tours on the trails, the Outdoor Base is a mandatory stop for the many bikers in the region, who can thus take advantage of the services provided by Clorofilla.
In spring 2023 a second info point will be open in Pietra Ligure, where a wide trail area especially designed for e-bikes is being developed. The Outdoor Base of Pietra too will be furnished with a Clorofilla recharge and repair station and bike rack accessible to all riders for free.

Clorofilla won the Design & innovation Award 2020 for the Tourism category.
This award selects the best products in the cycling field, not only from an aesthetic point of view but with concrete tests.
In our own small way, we are really happy and proud to continue to bring Made in Italy creativity and quality to the world.