The seaside resort announces a major plan to become a major destination for cycle tourism in France.
Gruissan, its Barbarossa tower, its port, its chalets, its long beaches and soon… its bikes. “I got a little excited when we started saying, a few months ago, “Make Gruissan the first car-free coastal resort”introduced Mayor Didier Codorniou, on the eve of the presentation of the major Cycling plan launched by the town of Gruissan.
The former French XV player also insisted on the cycling culture present in the seaside resort. “It goes back a very long time with the Festina team which came here to prepare for its major competitions… we are also used to organizing events, with the arrival of the Tour de France on July 16, the Vuelta in 2017 but also the Tour d’Occitanie, the Tour de Midi Libre, the Tour de l’Aude Féminin…”
Some time ago, Gruissan applied to host a first “Cycling Hub” in the Occitanie region. For laymen, less comfortable with the language of Shakespeare, this “Cycling Center” should bring something more to the Aude city, in welcoming tourists.
“Expensive infrastructure, not just paint jobs”
Gruissan already has around twenty kilometers of cycle paths today, a series of self-service repair terminals for people who have technical problems but also, for roaming cyclists, a shower offer at the Captaincy. But also bicycle rooms, locked, secure, and which can be accessed with applications, on the port, and ultimately the potential installation of floating pontoons where you can park your two-wheeler.
“We would like to accelerate and move towards soft mobility so that tomorrow, both tourists and residents, can understand that we are talking more and more about the energy transition, our environment, the protection of biodiversity…adds the city councilor. It will be expensive infrastructure, not just paint… for protected roads that allow children to travel.”
Cycling, a benefit for society
In Gruissan, a bonus system has already been put in place for municipal agents who control their carbon footprint and come to work by pedaling, “We are at 20% today, and we are aiming for 50-60% in the long term.”explains Didier Codorniou.
“I believe that we must assume this objective of “Gruissan without cars”, a bit provocative. The idea is not to erase cars from the territory, but to move the lines”says Joan-Manuel Baco, cycling enthusiast and director of the Gruissan tourist office since July 1.
The town of Gruissan accumulates labels
After “Ville à Vélo”, awarded by ASO, organizer of the Tour de France, membership in the “Club of cycleable and walkable cities and territories”, the seaside resort inherited the “Accueil Vélo” label, with 26 establishments labeled on the municipality (6,400 in France).
“Cycling is the DNA of Audedeclares Nadine Carson, president of the Aude Tourist Development Agency. With the Mediterranean by bike, the Vélosud, the greenway, the EuroVelo 8, it's a great asset.”
EuroVélo 8, the famous European route linking Cadiz to Athens, will soon make Gruissan one of its new stops.
Moving the lines yes, but also costing society less, while a kilometer by car costs around 40 cents, between the environmental impact and the question of infrastructure. “Cycling is the opposite, it's a benefit. A trip of one kilometer by bike brings in 58 cents to society, avoiding health expenses, too heavy infrastructure, and too big an impact on the environment”, explains the director of the tourist office.
22 billion euros and 13,500 jobs in France
“Tourism is one of the social and economic activities that produce a lot of greenhouse gases, since most travelers in Occitania travel by car,” notes Vincent Garel, president of the Occitanie Regional Tourism and Leisure Committee (CRTL).
The first city in the Region to launch this initiative, it could inspire many others. “We needed a guinea pig, a pilot station… we already have 24 applications from cities who also wish to develop a “Cycling Hub”, welcomes Vincent Garel, in a sector which is worth nearly 22 billion euros per year and employs 13,500 people in France.
France is the second world destination, behind Germany, for cycle tourism, Occitanie is the second most popular French region. Will Gruissan be among the key destinations for bicycle enthusiasts in France in the future?
