In the 1990s, the establishment of the first cycle routes along Rimini’s romantic seafront and avenues marked the city’s entry into urban cycling. Since 2004, the municipality has intensified its investments in developing cycling infrastructure, and today Rimini is crossed by regional and national cycling routes which welcome all types of cyclists – from city dwellers to adventurous mountain bikers. The city’s cycling network – or Bicipolitana – boasts nearly 200 km of cycle-friendly infrastructure and consists of eight colour-coded interconnected lines.
 

The Italian wow-effect

 

For Rimini, active mobility isn’t a goal in itself — it’s part of the dolce vita. Public spaces are designed to be beautiful, inclusive, and safe, which naturally means prioritising walking, cycling, and greenery over car-centred streets. In recent years, the city has transformed more than 15 locations into places for people. This didn’t happen by chance: it required bold decisions, careful planning, and close collaboration with citizens and local stakeholders. 

The new Parco del mare is a prime example of Rimini’s beautiful redevelopment. Earlier occupied by car parkings and asphalt roads, the 15 km-long promenade now welcomes residents and tourists with cycling and walking paths, increased beach space, green areas, open-air gyms, playgrounds and relaxation lounges. 

Other beautiful sights of the old town will strike you on your way to Velo-city 2026. Piazza Malatesta, hosting a monumental 15th-century castle, has recently switched from a large car parking area to a pedestrian plaza. A couple of minutes cycling away, the 2,000-year-old Tiberius bridge has regained all its glory after cars were banned from it. The stunning Piazza sull’Acqua complements the underlying water basin, which has been made accessible thanks to a pedestrian path that smoothly connects it with nearby slow-mobility routes. Moving towards the mainland, you will cross Marecchia Park, where cycle paths lead you deep into Rimini’s countryside.
   

A bike ride a day…

Active mobility combats local air pollution and sedentary lifestyles, making it a natural ally of interventions that aim to improve people’s health. Rimini’s transformations were explicitly designed to reach this objective. The city’s Strategic Masterplan has focused on improving quality of life through sustainable mobility, while supporting the creation of a sustainable, attractive and inclusive destination for tourists. For example, Parco del Mare offers sports equipment for both regular and occasional sports lovers, from callisthenics to tennis and basketball. The Wellness Valley project, a collaborative project that promotes healthy lifestyles in the region, has put its members’ efforts into numbers and revealed that Emilia-Romagna’s residents are indeed more active and healthy than the Italian average!
 

Where every tourist becomes a cyclist

As one of today’s top beach destinations in Europe, Rimini experiences over 3.3 million arrivals and 15 million overnights per year. With 80% of tourists arriving by car, mobility management is a challenge, but the city has risen to meet it. Many hotels treat their guests with free bike rentals, the main touristic spots are connected by cycling paths, and visitors arriving by train can enjoy the Bike Park – a mobility hub at Rimini’s central station that offers luggage storage, parking, bike rentals, repairs, and everything needed to explore the city on wheels. With these top-notch services, tourists don’t just discover Rimini – they discover the convenience of cycling too!

A growing number of cycling tourists is purposefully coming to Emilia-Romagna for its historic-natural heritage. A dense network of regional and national cycling routes allows them to make the most out of it. Rimini is connected, among others, to the Adriatic Cycle Route (ER37), the Emilia Cycle Route (ER8), the Romagna–Versilia Cycle Route (ER33), the Marecchia River Route, the Sun Route (ER17), Via Romagna, Ciclovia di San Vicinio and the thematic Food Valley Bike and Dante’s Cycleway.
   

Teamwork makes the dream work

Beyond bikes, both tourists and residents can rely on a range of other sustainable transport options. Once again, Rimini is leading the way in Italy with creative, multi-modal and locally tailored mobility solutions. The Metromare, a fully electric bus line linking Rimini to Riccione, offers a smooth service while keeping the coastline untouched and free from congestion. Complementing this, the free on-demand Shuttlemare connects the city centre to the beach, and Rimini’s e-mobility sharing services keep the rest of the city moving with free-floating scooters and e-bikes.
   

Good vibes for all

From the sea views and playgrounds of Parco del Mare to the historic city centre, Rimini’s Good Vibes are for everyone. That’s why the city initiated several projects to improve accessibility for families, older people, children and people with disabilities. Through the City Changer Cargo Bike project, the municipality has offered free rental of cargo bikes at its Bike Park in 2020: one designed for families, one for wheelchair users and one for freight transport. Cargo bikes also powered the “Books by Cargo Bike” project, enabling a public library to easily deliver books to primary school kids around the city. Children and teenagers are likewise involved in various cycling education projects, in the classroom and outside, co-led by the City of Rimini and FIAB.

The shore has been made accessible through the holistic renovation of the beach club “Spiaggia libera tutti!”, which features a barrier-free boardwalk, paved gazebos, and skilled personnel to support where needed. A nearby playground in Parco del Mare has been thoughtfully designed for children with disabilities, focusing on the sights, sounds, and textures that most appeal to them.
 

What’s next?

Rimini’s urban dream is taking shape and more exciting developments are underway! Follow the city’s ongoing transformation in the lead-up to the conference, and join us at Velo-city 2026 to experience #RiminiGoodVibes firsthand!