This wrap-up has been compiled by the Programme
PROGRAMME 2021-2027
Priority   3 Climate-neutral societies
Objective  3.1 Circular economy
BAB:
Wrap-up of project achievements
The EuroVelo 10 route suffers from uneven development, weak cooperation and inconsistent information, limiting its potential as a cycling tourism destination. The BAB (Bike Across the Baltic) project equipped regional and local authorities, tourism organisations, NGOs and SMEs with shared tools, assessments and recommendations to develop a more attractive, accessible and sustainable route across Finland, Sweden, Estonia and Poland
Highlights
BAB
Highlights
BREC
The project successfully addressed the fragmented development of the EuroVelo 10 route by bringing together public authorities, NGOs, SMEs and tourism actors from Finland, Sweden, Estonia and Poland to improve cycling tourism governance, cooperation and promotion.
In a nutshell, the project delivered:
• Cycle tourism development organisational benchmarking tool
• Route assessment reports and route descriptions for EuroVelo 10
• Policy recommendations and support for National EuroVelo Coordination Centres (NECCs )
• Strengthened capacity of regional and local authorities
Project
Details
Project type
Small project
Project duration
October 2023 – July 2025
Contribution to the EUSBSR
PA Tourism
Budget in million
EURO
Involved
Countries
Lead partner
Project partners
Cycle Tourism Development Benchmarking Tool
Best practice guidance for advanced wastewater treatment
The BAB project developed a practical benchmarking guide and self-assessment tool to help regional and local authorities evaluate and strengthen their capacity to develop cycling tourism routes. The solution was developed after the project found that municipalities across the Baltic Sea Region had varying levels of knowledge and experience in cycling tourism development, making it difficult to apply a common approach. Based on the EuroVelo certification standards and the experience of cycling tourism developers, the guide covers the entire route development process. It includes three main themes: cooperation in cycling tourism and route development; infrastructure and cyclist-friendly services based on EuroVelo standards; and the role of public transport and cross-border connections. The accompanying Excel-based self-assessment tool follows the same themes and enables users to assess their current situation before consulting the relevant sections of the guide for further information.
The solution was jointly developed by partners from Finland, Sweden, Estonia and Poland and refined through workshops with municipalities, regional authorities and other beneficiaries. By working together, the partners created a common framework for cycling route development that can be applied across different regions despite varying levels of experience.
By now, the benchmarking guide and self-assessment tool have been introduced to municipalities, regional authorities and stakeholders through several project events. The guide is used by project partners, regional authorities and route developers, while project partners have also recognised the need to disseminate it to consulting companies responsible for implementing cycling route development projects.
Get inspired
EuroVelo 10
Educational materials
Harmonised Route Information
To improve the quality and consistency of information available along EuroVelo 10, the BAB project carried out route inspections and assessments on selected sections of the route in Finland, Sweden, Estonia and Poland. The assessments examined route alignment, signposting, services, attractions, and public transport connections in line with the needs identified in each partner country.
The findings were transformed into updated and harmonised route descriptions that include detailed route information, maps, photographs, and practical travel tips. The project also developed a map of ferry connections between the partner countries to improve cross-border travel and route accessibility, while the main EuroVelo 10 webpage operated by the European Cyclists’ Federation was updated with improved content and links to the national route descriptions.
Municipalities, tourism organisations, SMEs and cycling experts contributed to the development of the route information. Working together across Finland, Sweden, Estonia and Poland helped improve the consistency of information available to cyclists while increasing the visibility of EuroVelo 10 among local authorities and tourism actors.
Today, the updated route descriptions are published on national cycling and tourism platforms and linked to the European EuroVelo website. They provide reliable information for cyclists, tourism organisations and local authorities to support route planning, promotion and future route development.Â
Policy Impact and Stronger EuroVelo Governance
BAB strengthened the strategic and policy dimension of cycling tourism. Through peer-learning workshops and stakeholder cooperation, partners developed recommendations that were integrated into ongoing national and regional policy processes.
In Finland, the project prepared national policy recommendations for cycling tourism development. In Estonia, it supported securing the role of cycling tourism in the National Cycling Strategy 2040. A major achievement was the establishment of a National EuroVelo Coordination Centre in Poland in 2025. Discussions on similar structures advanced in Sweden, Finland and Estonia. At European level, the project also contributed to discussions on the revision of EuroVelo standards through responses to the European Cyclists’ Federation survey.
Learn more
Interreg pays off
BAB
Interreg pays off: BREC
The benchmarking guide and self-assessment tool remain available after the project’s end, providing regional authorities, route developers and consulting companies with practical support for future cycling tourism development.Â
The harmonised route descriptions and supporting materials continue to provide publicly available information for cyclists and tourism actors, supporting the promotion and further development of EuroVelo 10 beyond the project’s lifetime.
In numbers
6 organisations cooperating across borders
74 organisations directly benefitting from project solutions
Project Wrap-Up
Thanks to Interreg funding and transnational cooperation, BAB helped transform EuroVelo 10 sections in Finland, Poland, Estonia and Sweden from a fragmented route into a more coordinated and visible cycling tourism product.
Regional and local authorities, tourism organisations, NGOs and SMEs now have practical tools, stronger networks and better information to continue developing sustainable cycling tourism across the Baltic Sea Region.
