In order to secure full and lasting benefits of the North Sea Cycle Route (former Interreg IIB project), the aim of the CO 2 project was to establish a permanent organisational structure, well publicised and branded, to offer a consistently high-quality cycling experience and an insight into the natural and man-made heritage of the North Sea Region as a whole. Cycle tourism gives minimal environmental impact and low demands on infrastructure with the bicycle being the most energy efficient form of transport. At the same time it offers considerable economic benefits for rural and peripheral areas derived from tourism.

The main achievement of the CO 2 project was the development of a permanent management structure to oversee the integration of the North Sea Cycle Route (NSCR) as a high quality product in the North Sea Region (NSR). This was supported by knowledge transfer and promotion of the NSCR including a website, newsletters, conferences, forums and exchanges.

Activities
Besides physical improvements of infrastructure, such as improvements to road surfaces, signing and access to accommodations were undertaken to facilitate those using the existing NSCR.

Additionally, new services and special cycle tour packages were established. CO2 facilitated the consolidation of the NSCR as a global tourist product beyond the NSR.

Mode of cooperation
The main topic for co-operation with other IIIB projects like the Nave Nortrail project (IIIB), the Geoshare project (IIIB) and the KNOT project (IIIC) has been the website; including technical aspects as well as the sharing of knowledge.The North Sea Cycle Route project and the Nave Nortrail project share the same mapping solution and use a common article database, which was developed through the Geoshare project. The KNOT project used the same technology to develop a meta-database for information on accommodation, cultural and natural heritage. This database is currently in use by the North Sea Cycle Route and the NAVE Nortrail projects. After the official end of the project, the co-operation continued between the regions involved.

CO 2 meetings and activities stimulated active learning and created cross-sectoral networks and innovative actions among groups of people who did not work together in the normal run of their working life. For instance, the UK partners report that engaging with local activists and local politicians was one of their central bricks in this work.

Sustainability
CO 2 addressed a sustainable approach taking environmental aspects into account. The increased use of sustainable transport throughout the regions along the route contributes to the reduction of CO2. Moreover physical improvement of the route as well as the information transferred over the website stimulated a greater environmental awareness and understanding of the cultural and natural heritage of the North Sea Region. Further, the project helped to consolidate the rural economic base in farming areas and hence contributed to the preservation of valuable cultural landscapes around the North Sea basin.

The project has used a successful bottom up approach, for instance in targeting the end user as well as the individual suppliers (and potential suppliers) of services for the cycling tourists.

Long-term achievements and policy shaping
As the number of users (cyclists) continues to rise, it is expected that both the public and the private sector of the partner regions will continue to improve the physical standard and the level of services on offer along the North Sea Cycle Route also after the closure of the project.

Policy documents produced by the national road authorities in the different partner countries were influenced by the project, e.g. “The national cycle strategy” which is being developed in Norway.
Furthermore regional politicians used the CO 2 project as an example to increase the focus on cycling and a healthy society in general.

After the end of the project the new established network of the former partnership will meet once a year to secure the transnational quality of the North Sea Cycle Route and the common website.

Mode of cooperation
The main topic for co-operation with other IIIB projects like the Nave Nortrail project (IIIB), the Geoshare project (IIIB) and the KNOT project (IIIC) has been the website; including technical aspects as well as the sharing of knowledge.The North Sea Cycle Route project and the Nave Nortrail project share the same mapping solution and use a common article database, which was developed through the Geoshare project. The KNOT project used the same technology to develop a meta-database for information on accommodation, cultural and natural heritage. This database is currently in use by the North Sea Cycle Route and the NAVE Nortrail projects. After the official end of the project, the co-operation continued between the regions involved.

CO 2 meetings and activities stimulated active learning and created cross-sectoral networks and innovative actions among groups of people who did not work together in the normal run of their working life. For instance, the UK partners report that engaging with local activists and local politicians was one of their central bricks in this work.

Sustainability
CO 2 addressed a sustainable approach taking environmental aspects into account. The increased use of sustainable transport throughout the regions along the route contributes to the reduction of CO2. Moreover physical improvement of the route as well as the information transferred over the website stimulated a greater environmental awareness and understanding of the cultural and natural heritage of the North Sea Region. Further, the project helped to consolidate the rural economic base in farming areas and hence contributed to the preservation of valuable cultural landscapes around the North Sea basin.

The project has used a successful bottom up approach, for instance in targeting the end user as well as the individual suppliers (and potential suppliers) of services for the cycling tourists.

Long-term achievements and policy shaping
As the number of users (cyclists) continues to rise, it is expected that both the public and the private sector of the partner regions will continue to improve the physical standard and the level of services on offer along the North Sea Cycle Route also after the closure of the project.

Policy documents produced by the national road authorities in the different partner countries were influenced by the project, e.g. “The national cycle strategy” which is being developed in Norway.
Furthermore regional politicians used the CO 2 project as an example to increase the focus on cycling and a healthy society in general.

After the end of the project the new established network of the former partnership will meet once a year to secure the transnational quality of the North Sea Cycle Route and the common website.

Eli Viten and Wenche Myrland
Rogaland County Council
Arkitekt Eckhoffsgate 1
P.O. Box 130 N-4001 Stavanger
Norway
evi@rogfk.no
wemy@rogfk.no
www.northsea-cycle.com
Tel: +47 51 51 66 88