Cycle Routes That Work: Why Cycling Tourism Needs Data (Not Just Asphalt)

In recent years, the mantra has been just one: “build.” Kilometers of bike paths, PNRR funding, and villages ready to become “slow” destinations. Yet, as an industry professional working with Bikelife, I often witness the same scene: empty cycle routes or villages crossed by “hit-and-run” cyclists who leave nothing behind for the local economy.

The problem is not the bicycle. And it is often not even the lack of asphalt. The real issue is blind planning.

From “Designed” Cycle Paths to “Lived” Cycle Paths

A recent study published in Scientific Reports (2026) confirms what many of us in the field have long argued: rural cycling networks fail when they are based solely on static criteria.

Today, infrastructure is typically planned by looking at:

• Road width and average gradients
• Geometric continuity of the route
• Theoretical connections between point A and point B

These parameters are necessary, of course — but they are not sufficient. In villages and rural areas, human flow is not linear. It is discontinuous, concentrated at specific times, and deeply dependent on services.

Designing a bike path while ignoring real-life habits means building a beautiful cathedral in the desert.

The 2026 Lesson: Follow People, Not Just Maps

The study proposes a paradigm shift: use real flow data to decide where a cycle path should run. By analyzing how long people stay in specific areas (through sensors and digital tracking), researchers introduced the concept of “Road Attractiveness.”

A road is not “beautiful” in an abstract sense; it is attractive if it can:

• Attract cycle tourists (through scenery or safety).
• Retain them (thanks to shade, fountains, scenic viewpoints).
• Connect them (proximity to workshops, bike hotels , tasting experiences).

If a cycle path becomes the “backbone” linking these real points of attraction, the outcome changes radically.

The result? A network that doesn’t simply move bicycles through a territory, but intercepts services and transforms transit into permanence.

What Does This Mean for Italian Cycle Tourism?

Italy boasts an immense heritage of secondary roads, yet we often miss the target because we separate infrastructure from experience.

The study highlights clear lessons for our territories:

• No more “corridor paths.” It’s not just about arriving quickly; it’s about experiencing the journey.
• Villages are not cities. Rural dynamics require specific services (e-bike charging stations, shaded rest areas) positioned where people naturally stop — not where leftover pavement space happens to be available.
• Data over intuition. If data shows that cycle tourists stop in a particular square, that’s where the bike path should pass — and where bike-friendly services should be strengthened.

In Summary: A Cultural Challenge

The research published in Scientific Reports reminds us that cycling networks work when they follow experiences, not just lines on a map. At Bikelife, we see every day that the difference between an empty cycle route and a vibrant territory lies in the ability to create an ecosystem.

It’s time to stop designing with a ruler alone and start planning by observing how people truly love to experience the road.