Novelties on the Drava Cycling Route

Cyclists from Slovenia and abroad have been able to cycle along the Drava Cycling Route for some time now, which is already fully marked; in recent years, many construction works have been carried out to complete the cycle route as quickly as possible. In the last 5 years, more than 60 km of the Drava Cycling Route in Slovenia has been renovated or newly built or marked, which represents just under half of the entire 145 km long connection. The construction of the entire cycle route is estimated at more than 20 million euros and could be completed within the next 5 years. Among the major investments of the Slovenian Infrastructure Agency (DRSI) in 2019 was the completion of the construction of two major sections in the Municipality of Ruše and the Municipality of Muta, where the first safe underpass for cyclists on the Drava Cycling Route has been arranged. Construction of a cycle route in the Municipality of Radlje ob Dravi has begun.

In 2020, activities to develop the entire cycling connection will continue. DRSI is carrying out activities on the section in Radlje ob Dravi and plans to open a new construction site in the City Municipality of Maribor, which will complete the construction of the connection between Ruše and Limbuš. On this section, 4 rest areas and a safe cycling crossing in Ruše will be arranged. This year, DRSI completed the preparation of project documentation for 8 longer sections of the planned Drava Cycling Route in Carinthia and the Podravje region. Design activities in the Municipalities of Lovrenc na Pohorju, Ormož and Duplek, which represent a more demanding part of the connection, continue. The City Municipality of Maribor has completed preparation of project documentation for the section Melje - Malečnik - Trčova, and the documentation for the section between the Drava Centre and the Double-Storey Bridge (Dvoetažni most) is being prepared. Together with DRSI and the municipalities, we strive to obtain additional European funds for individual sections through the Regional Development Agreement and Integrated Territorial Investments. In the coming years, we want to continue construction on all sections where the documentation is already prepared. The precondition will be the acquisition of all necessary land and the provision of financial resources to finance the construction. Municipalities have continued to rehabilitate macadam roads, especially where they have been poorly maintained in the past or damaged by floods. On the section between Dogoše and Slovenja vas, DRSI set up supplementary boards with instructions for cyclists, which is one of the first examples of regulating relations between cyclists, farmers, maintenance workers and intact nature. This year, it plans to set up information boards along the entire Drava Cycling Route, which will present individual stages and the tourist offering along the route.

The Maribor – Pohorje Tourist Board, which carries out activities for the promotion and marketing of the Drava Bike cycling brand, is preparing a renewed website (www.dravabike.si) and maps, which will improve the presentation of the tourist offer to cyclists. New attractive parts of the cycling route will also be included in renewed video and image material. In cooperation with the providers found along the Drava Cycling Route, a reservation system is being prepared, which, in addition to the tourist offer along the way, will also include the services of transporting cyclists, bicycles and luggage. Due to the reduced number of foreign tourist arrivals, this year is also the best opportunity for a larger number of Slovenian cyclists to get to know the beauty of the Drava Cycling Route.