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Integrating cycling tourism, e-mobility and local development

A spatial model to plan slow tourist paths for E-bikes

Luca Pirolo, Rossella Moscarelli

Regional Science Policy & Practice

Volume 17, Issue 12

Definition of the POI. Source: Source: Developed by the authors.

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The paper discusses the future of slow tourism and the recent development of e-mobility, focusing on vehicles

powered by electricity, such as pedal-assisted bicycles. E-bikes present a promising opportunity to promote

cycling tourism, as they can be used by a wider range of people and cover greater distances. The paper proposes a

spatial planning model for designing cycleways equipped with Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) to

integrate e-mobility into a slow tourism project. An original mathematical GIS model is presented, along with its

application to a case study: the 700-kilometre VENTO cycle route in Italy, which runs from Venice to Turin

alongside the Po River. The mathematical model identifies the optimal locations for e-bike charging stations

along the VENTO cycleway, based on criteria that combine technological EVSE improvements with a regenerative

approach to marginal territories. Stopping to charge an e-bike encourages people to explore the area. This

could help to distribute the positive economic impacts of cycling tourism to less attractive areas.