A two-day journey through Bologna’s cycling culture
On March 25th and 26th, nearly 40 CycleRight partners from across Europe—Hungary, Sweden, Belgium, Montenegro, Romania, Latvia, Italy, Poland, and Moldova—gathered in Bologna for the project’s second Study Visit. The two-day event, hosted by the Città Metropolitana di Bologna (CMBO), was a deep dive into one of Italy’s most ambitious and inspiring regional visions for sustainable mobility and cycling.
The Metropolitan City of Bologna, part of the Emilia-Romagna region, is home to a million inhabitants and stretches across a diverse landscape—from the Apennine Mountains in the south to the Po Valley in the north, with Bologna’s urbanised area at the centre. Over the past decade, CMBO has actively developed cycling-oriented measures as a tool for environmental sustainability, urban livability, safety and accessibility.
The Study Visit kicked off in the Council Hall of Palazzo Malvezzi, CMBO’s headquarters, where guests were welcomed by local authorities and technical experts from the Metropolitan City and the Municipality of Bologna. They presented key mobility initiatives, including the SUMP, Bicipolitana, and the Bologna Città 30 project.
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The metropolitan SUMP, adopted in 2019, is a comprehensive roadmap for sustainable transport in the region, aiming to transform the area from a car-oriented city to a people-oriented city. At its core is the Bicipolitana Bolognese – Italy’s first metropolitan cycling network. The Bicipolitana maps out a 1,000 km web of cycling corridors that link Bologna to its surrounding municipalities, industrial hubs, schools, and cultural centres. With over 420 km already built or under construction and an additional 149 km funded, this bold project transforms how residents experience the region. It includes not just infrastructure, but also signage, digital tools, awareness campaigns, and bike-friendly services, all designed to make cycling a tool for urban regeneration. Bologna is also leading the way in Italy as the first major city to adopt a general 30 km/h speed limit through its Bologna Città 30 initiative, which promotes safer, calmer and more liveable streets – especially for cyclists and pedestrians. Just one year in, the impact is clear: road fatalities have nearly halved, bike-sharing is booming and cycling rates are rising. |
Going even more in-depth, representatives from the municipalities of San Lazzaro di Savena, Casalecchio di Reno, and Pianoro showcased local cycling policies, reflecting how the regional vision is taking root in diverse local contexts.
Participants then took a walking tour beneath Bologna’s iconic UNESCO-listed porticoes, visiting several symbolic spots of the city's cycling transformation: the soon-to-reopen Velostation—a key intermodal hub, and Via di Vincenzo, a former street turned into a school square under the Bologna Città 30 project, offering a child-safe, car-free space for learning and play.
The first day concluded with a visit to Bologna Marconi Airport, where participants learned about the airport’s efforts to improve bike accessibility. These efforts include developing a section of EuroVelo 7 (The Sun Cycle Route) as part of a decarbonisation agreement with CMBO and the Emilia-Romagna region.
On the second day, the group hit the pedals along this Ciclovia del Sole, which forms part of the long-distance EuroVelo 7 cycle route. Starting in Osteria Nuova and ending in Crevalcore, the ride offered a firsthand experience of CMBO’s commitment to long-range connectivity and scenic, safe routes. Stops included San Giovanni in Persiceto’s Bed & Bike facility.
In the afternoon, the group gathered at Villa Smeraldi, where local cycling advocacy groups shared their work. Organisations such as FIAB I Pedalalenta, FIAB Monte Sole Bike Group, Salvaiciclisti Bologna, Impresa Sociale Arca, RuotaLiberaTutti, and Cooperativa Anima gave passionate presentations on their involvement in promoting a culture of active mobility and cycling, showcasing the richness of activities and best practices in the Bologna area.
The two-day event concluded with a workshop organized by the European Cyclists' Federation to reflect on Bologna’s policies and best practices and discuss how they could be adapted and replicated in partner countries. The workshop also featured the screening of a documentary produced by Impresa Sociale Arca about a bike trip from Bologna to Rome to promote inclusion and break down prejudices about disability.
