Mountain cycle network as enhancer of sustainable economic post-earthquake development in the central Apennines area

Environmental, cultural and health oriented cycling tourism represents an emerging phenomenon worldwide. If properly encouraged, guided and managed, it can give rise to economic return functional to new territorial models of business development compatible with the fragilities typical of isolated mountain places. The paper analyses the territorial and socio-economic conditions for developing cycle tourism in the Gran Sasso d'Italia area, hit by the 2009 earthquake, characterized by two natural parks and some high value small villages. The objectives of the article are to define an intervention methodology focused on the design of an integrated cycle mobility network and to preliminarily assess its costs and impacts on the local economy. The aim of the study is to revive the economic fabric of the area, through the introduction of an eco-compatible development model able to enhance the uniqueness of historical-environmental resources, reorganize the internal mobility system and take advantage of the benefits of public and private building heritage reconstruction. In support of these objectives the article presents an extensive territorial and transport analyses of the study area, and concludes by determining the minimum number of users necessary to guarantee the effectiveness of the investment and policies to achieve them.