In developed European countries, cycling is being reintroduced in the transport system, mainly for economic, ecological and recreational purposes, and its role is becoming increasingly important.  A wide circle of people is engaged in cycling, irrespective of their age and status in society. 

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In accordance with the Public Roads Act (Uradni list RS No. 26/97 of 6 May 1997), the Roads Agency is responsible for the planning, construction and maintenance of the national cycle network.  The development of non-motorised traffic, cycling infrastructure design and the use of bicycles are promoted through national strategy and transport policy anywhere in the country where it is possible and appropriate. 

Slovenia aims to encourage changes in transport mode selection in towns and to replace at least some daily car trips with cycling. The number of people becoming engaged in recreational cycling in quiet, friendly environments outside major towns is increasing rapidly. The reasons are, in particular, tourism, amateur sports activities and preventive health care.   Therefore, experts in urban planning and transport experts are gradually devoting more and more of their attention to cycling and walking projects.  

The spatial concept of the future national cycle network is elucidated in the cartographic section of the Ordinance amending the spatial components of the medium-term and long-term social plan of the Republic of Slovenia (Uradni list RS No. 72/95 of 15 June 1995). The Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Spatial Planning, a body within the Ministry of the Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy, has submitted a concept containing around 2000 km of national cycling routes.
 

Proposed future national cycle network

The national cycle network should consist of long-distance (red colour), main (blue colour) and regional (green colour) cycling connections. Municipal cycling connections should be linked to the network of national cycling connections.

National cycle network with a description of the cycle routes 

The design and concept of the national cycle network depends on the following objectives:

the network needs to be a closed-circuit network adjusted to the spatial characteristics of the region;cycling connections having different functions need to be interlinked;the cycle network needs to be connected to public passenger transport stations, railway stations and parking areas for motor vehicles;cycling connections need to be equipped with appropriate additional technical and service infrastructure;new cycle paths in areas without the possibility of using existing low-traffic roads suitable for cycling should be constructed or reconfigured;on the basis of national interest, appropriate field paths, forest roads or abandoned infrastructure alignments should be converted into cycle paths.

Appropriate planning of construction and the establishment of cycling connections should enable balanced development of the cycle network, better accessibility to all areas in Slovenia, connection to the international cycle network, and improvement of transport services with regard to the rational use of energy and reduction of negative effects on the environment.

  

The basic directions of the national cycling network provided for in the Ordinance amending the spatial components of the medium-term and long-term social plan of the Republic of Slovenia have been reconsidered within the inventory of existing connections by way of a survey carried out in individual municipalities.   The data acquisition system was intentionally extended to the local level so that the municipalities, which know their areas, local sights and tourist points of interest, habits and wishes of inhabitants and of visitors of the area best, could actively participate in making a detailed concept for the planned network.

After final coordination with individual municipalities and taking into consideration the national interest and the opinions of transport experts, a detailed plan of the national cycle network was elaborated.   The network should be equally distributed across the entire territory of the Republic of Slovenia.  Individual connections should link major Slovenian towns, important tourist and cultural centres, as well as the main traffic hubs, and be connected to international cycle routes.

National cycle routes will either be constructed in an optional sequence as cycle paths, cycle tracks and cycle lanes on a roadway or cyclists will use low-traffic national or municipal roads along with motorised traffic, provided that these roads have proper traffic signalisation.



  


In order to assure better traffic safety, cycle routes within the national cycle network have been classified in accordance with their purpose: long-distance cycling, touring cycling and cycle tourism. For the construction of the cycle network, advantage should be taken of field paths, forest roads, river embankments or abandoned alignments or uncategorised roads.   Around important tourist places where a large number of cyclists is expected, construction of paths intended only for cyclists would be the most appropriate solution.  However, since spatial and financial restrictions at least in the first construction phase do not make it possible to construct new separate areas for cyclists everywhere, it is reasonable to direct cycle traffic outside built-up areas to low-traffic, safer roads and roads more appropriate for cycling.    These roads are to be partly reconstructed or properly equipped with traffic signs and signals required for cycle traffic management. 

Within and outside of built-up areas which are subject to the rules and principles of rational use of space and urbanisation and where high motor vehicle traffic levels are expected, it is best to construct cycle tracks and cycle lanes.   Separate areas intended only for cyclists assure greater safety and increase interest in cycling.

A draft plan of directions in the future cycle network has been elaborated in light of strategic planning and is, as such, solely of an informative nature.   Specific alignments, priorities and construction methods to be applied to individual sections of national cycle routes will be defined in detail in the appropriate project documentation.    

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