EuroVelo 2 (EV2), named The Capitals Route, is a 5,050 km (3,140 mi) long EuroVelo long-distance cycling route running from Galway, Ireland to Moscow, Russia. This east-west route passes successively through seven countries – Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Belarus and Russia – and visits all their capital cities.
| EV2 The Capitals Route | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Length | 5,050 km (3,140 mi) |
| Designation | European Cyclists' Federation |
| Trailheads | Galway, Ireland to Moscow, Russia |
| Use | cycling |
| Website | https://en.eurovelo.com/ev2 |
Route
editIn Ireland
editThe route is known as the Dublin-Galway Greenway, and is yet to be finalised.
The western section of EV2 between Galway and Dublin was scheduled to commence construction between Athlone and Mullingar in 2014, and completed in 2015, along a disused railway line. Portions of the Royal Canal bank between Mullingar and the Westmeath – Meath county boundary have been completed. The section from the county boundary – Dublin section closed public consultation in February 2016[1] The initial design of the westernmost section through Galway and Roscommon has been rejected as substandard and must be redesigned.
Note that there is some controversy over the design standard in Ireland overall.[2][3][4]
In the UK
editIn the UK, the EV2 starts at Holyhead on the Isle of Anglesey and travels through the heart of Wales along the National Cycle Network's NCR8 Lôn Las Cymru, taking in Snowdonia National Park and Brecon Beacons National Park. It passes through the Welsh capital of Cardiff before crossing the Severn, where it visits the cities of Bristol and Bath – connected by the Bristol and Bath Railway Path.
After that it joins the Kennet and Avon Cycle Route (NCR4) along the canal which links the Thames and the Bristol Channel, weaving through scenery on its way from Bath to Reading. At Reading, the route joins the Thames Path Cycle Route on its way to London. Finally it leaves London through the docklands, travelling north to the ferry port at Harwich.
In the Netherlands
editIn the Netherlands, the EV2 follows the Dutch National Cycle Routes LF4 and LF8. From The Hague it follows the LF4 to Borculo and then the LF8 to Zwillbrock on the German border.[5]
In Germany
editIn Germany, the EV2 follows the German Cycling Network's D-Route 3, which runs 960 km (600 mi) from the Dutch border at Vreden to the Polish one at Küstrin-Kietz.[6]
In Poland
editIn Poland, the EV2 exists from the German border to Poznań. The rest is currently in development.
In Belarus
editIn Belarus, it will go through the last great (largely-unchanged) primeval forest in Europe, the Białowieża Forest, and the capital Minsk.[7]
In Russia
editIn Russia, the EV2 is in the planning stages and will pass through Smolensk on its way to Moscow.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Kildare County Council - Press Releases/Adverts". Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
- ^ "Design puts users at increased risk". Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
- ^ "Cycle Lane won't be on top of Rail Tracks". 10 May 2013. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
- ^ "Meath Section of the route". Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
- ^ "The Netherlands — EuroVelo 2". EuroVelo.com. Archived from the original on 29 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
- ^ "D-Route 3". RADNETZ Deutschland website. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
- ^ "EuroVelo-2 in Belarus: official website". EuroVelo-2 "Маршрут столиц". Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
In Belarus bicycle route is a recommended route for cycling which goes mostly through common roads, forest roads, trails, bicycle paths. In Belarus we have few special bicycle paths. But what is more important, for EuroVelo-2 we try to choose the safest, the most interesting and convenient roads for cycling which also have good transport access and tourist infrastructure.