Zurich has it all – a beautiful old town, inviting promenades and lakeside squares, even a view of the Alps and picturesque surroundings. What has been missing so far? Exciting, well-described cycle routes for different target groups. This is now changing with the launch of the ZURICH RIDES – an initiative of the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships, which will leave a legacy as a global cycling event.
The ZURICH RIDES developed by the Local Organising Committee Zurich 2024 together with Zurich Tourism leave a particularly valuable legacy. The routes connect the greater Zurich region and invite you to take one-day or multi-day rides all year round. Numerous routes on themes such as city, family, racing bike, gravel, mountain bike or para-cycling appeal to a wide range of users. Ambitious solo cyclists, families with children, leisure cyclists or para-athletes will find the ideal route – stony, gentle, hilly or steep, for every taste and every fitness level. The routes are presented with GPX data, descriptions, photos and videos as well as various tips on places of interest or catering. All information is available to the public and tourists free of charge via the two websites www.zurichrides.ch and https://www.zuerich.com/en/visit/cycling and on the komoot outdoor app.
Inspiration for two-wheel experiences
ZURICH RIDES make it easier to plan your next cycling adventure in and around Zurich. Suitable routes are easy to find: Select the desired type, such as Gravel or City, and then decide on a route that suits your abilities. The suggested routes are divided into three levels of difficulty based on length and metres in altitude. For the mountain bike routes that will be released in summer, the technical requirements are added as an additional selection criterion.
ZURICH RIDES ROAD – and/or something else
Thanks to the UCI Road World Championships, Zurich is once again becoming a stronghold for racing bikes. ZURICH RIDES recommends road bike routes for different levels on the historic routes of the Züri Metzgete, the racecourses of the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships in Zurich or routes suggested by local cycling clubs.
Fans of single trails on mountain bikes will find their Eldorado in the MTB area. There are also suitable routes for families. And those who want to explore the city of Zurich by PubliBike will also find what they are looking for at ZURICH RIDES.
Barrier-free routes for para-cyclists
Special attention was also paid to the interests and needs of para-cyclists. The organisers asked local handbikers about their favourite routes. Thanks to these tips and information, it was possible to define a selection of accessible routes with a gentle route profile and minimal traffic, but without steep ramps or very narrow bends. These would be insurmountable obstacles that would spoil the fun of the ride. In addition, the routes were chosen so that suitable infrastructure for wheelchair users is also available at the start and end points wherever possible – in keeping with the spirit of Zurich 2024: Together We Ride!
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Zurich 2024 is putting cycling centre stage and initiating numerous accompanying measures that will leave a legacy beyond the UCI Road Worlds. The accompanying measures will strengthen existing strategies of the Canton and City of Zurich as well as Swiss Cycling in the areas of transport, mobility, the environment, sports promotion, tourism and destination marketing.
About Zurich Tourism (https://www.zuerich.com/en)
Zurich Tourism is responsible for destination marketing and thus for the tourist brand profiling of the city and region of Zurich as a diverse tourist destination. 65 employees are committed to ensuring that Zurich is perceived as a sustainable and liveable premium destination with holiday quality.
