Região de Aveiro

The Aveiro Region Intermunicipal Community (CIRA) known as “Aveiro region” with a population of about 370 000 people, is a public institution of an associate nature and geographical scope and aims the realization of common interests of its 11 municipalities (Águeda, Albergaria-a-Velha, Anadia, Aveiro, Estarreja, Ílhavo, Murtosa, Oliveira do Bairro, Ovar, Sever do Vouga and Vagos).

It is located in the Center West coast of Portugal and its activities include the promotion of regional and local development, tourism, urban planning and management, water management, environment protection, energy efficiency and many clustered activities to promote cycling and its use as a differentiating identity in the region.

It should be noted that in Portugal, Aveiro region is where more people cycle regularly, a figure eight times higher than the national average, according to data from the INE (National Institute of Statistics), and a very significant part of the industrial production associated with bicycles is located in this region.

Aveiro region has a long history of cycling transport, when inhabitants used bicycles on their way to work in factories, fields or to sell fish. Nowadays, some municipalities in this region still see people use the bicycle as a means of transportation to schools, to work and in all municipalities there is a culture of cycling for leisure and tourism.

This is why the mobility theme, in particular cycling mobility is very important to the Aveiro region, so over the past few years, this region has invested in equipment and major projects, creating pedestrian and cycle-paths in urban and rural context with the goals to enable the discovery of its cultural and natural heritage. These cycle-paths are suitable for leisure and every day life dynamics and therefore this region has become a meeting point for cycling lovers.