Municipalities and associations in Liguria will be able to join together in consortia to manage and maintain mountain bike trails, with the option of issuing an annual paid permit, similar to the one used for mushroom picking.
Source: press release
This is a significant step, made possible by the unanimous approval of an amendment to Regional Law 24/2009, which regulates the Liguria Hiking Network (REL) and establishes the methods for protecting, enhancing, cataloging, and promoting the trails.
The new law allows for the formation of consortia between public and private entities for the management, promotion, and maintenance of trails intended exclusively for mountain biking. An annual license will be mandatory for cyclists, but not for residents and hikers. Half of the proceeds from its sale will be allocated to the maintenance and promotion of the trails, while the remainder will cover management costs, forest protection, and access roads. Municipalities will also receive a share based on the extent of the trail network within their territory.
The primary objective is to address the lack of resources for environmental protection in high-tourism areas, such as the Finale area. The FOR (Finale Outdoor Region) Consortium, which involves private operators, has been working in this area for years and has welcomed the new measure. "This is a historic achievement that represents the recognition of years of awareness-raising and engagement with public administrations at all institutional levels," the FOR explained, recalling the activities undertaken since 2019.
The Consortium emphasizes that the law makes the principle of user-fundraising a structural one, a model already successfully tested through the FOR YOU CARD, designed to ensure the economic sustainability of the trail network. According to FOR, this decision demonstrates that the Liguria Region has understood how outdoor tourism can enrich the regional economy.
This is one of the foundations we've worked on to make outdoor tourism a consolidated, regulated, and stable reality, establishing the "rules of the game." We're collaborating with inland and coastal municipalities to regulate the use of trails. Regulation must be public, as must infrastructure planning; resource-intensive management should be entrusted to public-private partnerships. We thank the Region for its sensitivity and for approving this amendment, which represents a step forward based on the experience and needs of the region. – Angelo Berlangieri, mayor of Finale Ligure
Looking ahead, the main challenge will be ensuring operational efficiency. The FOR Consortium emphasizes that "the challenge will be to build a structure capable of adapting to the pace, speed, and evolution of the market and its users."
The organization also emphasizes the central role of local entities in the implementation phase, noting that "the know-how needed to develop and manage this model already exists and is deeply rooted in the local communities, thanks to the daily work of those who have been working for years to make Liguria's outdoor sector a recognized national and international excellence."
