Unfortunately, it often happens that mayors have to deal with budgets that are in the red. And when there is no money in cash, generally the first to be set aside are investments which, in the thinking of many administrators, are considered secondary projects. It is enough to cycle on many cycle paths in the Bel Paese to realize that, once built, cycle paths are abandoned to themselves because maintenance costs money and is often an expense that needs to be “cut”. Unfortunately, that’s how it goes. So let’s welcome “Bikes in the Municipality”, the initiative promoted by the Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodithrough the Department for Sport, in collaboration with Sport and Health and Anci which provides a net financial allocation of 12.6 million euros and is aimed at all Italian Municipalities. Each mayor will be able, in relation to the number of inhabitants, to request a maximum payable contribution, from 50 thousand up to 150 thousand euros, identifying a project for the safety and redevelopment of cycle paths, for the installation of urban furniture for bicycles in places of aggregation , for initiatives related to the world of cycling that promote well-being, correct lifestyles, cycling sporting events and cycle tourism activities. This is the central objective of a project that moves along four directions: the diffusion of cycling culture to encourage the adoption of the bicycle as an ecological alternative to traditional means of transport, the development and redevelopment of cycling infrastructures, the promotion of cycle tourism for valorisation of the cultural and landscape heritage, the organization of events, including non-competitive ones, with the active participation of citizens. “Bikes in common – said the Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi – is a fascinating project that has various objectives, including sustainable mobility, slow tourism and sports practice because you can do physical activity even by going office or school. This project is also another way in which sport is dedicated to article 33 of our Constitution, recognizing its educational, social value and promotion of psychophysical well-being. What must be able to happen is that cities prepare themselves for equipped cycling because it is not enough to cycle, there must be minimum conditions for the safety of cyclists and cycle enthusiasts”. The 12.6 million net made available for this project are the beginning of public investments that will have to be linked to those of the cycling plan, which is part of the sustainable mobility of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. Italian municipalities interested in participating in the project can submit their application exclusively through the Sport and Health Platform starting from 12:00 on 7 November 2024 until 12:00 on 13 January 2025.