Kos Island Awarded ‘Bike Friendly’ Seal

Photo source: Visit Greece / Y. Skoulas

The Dodecanese island of Kos was awarded “Bike Friendly” certification recently making it one more Greek destination to support and integrate cycling activities into its tourism offerings.

Cyclists can now visit the Greek island and enjoy a range of bike routes for all levels and styles including dirt road, mixed and mountain tracks while staying at one of the eight “Bike Friendly” certified hotels.

With more than 15kms of bike lanes, 6,500 bicycles available for rent, and dozens of routes, Kos is already known as the “island of bikes”. In fact, Deputy Transport Minister Michalis Papadopoulos last November said the Transport Ministry was looking to include Kos in the EuroVelo cycling network that connects European countries.

“Bike Friendly” certification ceremony

The island’s “Bike Friendly” certification ceremony was held last week at the Municipality of Kos in the presence of city authorities and local tourism stakeholders.

Kos Mayor Theodosis Nikitaras underlined the importance of the Bike Friendly seal, adding that the island’s long cycling history is making a comeback through the municipality’s strategic choice to develop cycling tourism and to promote the use of bicycles as a means of transport.

Bike Friendly Destination certification was awarded by Vicky Karantzavelou, general manager of NatTour in collaboration with the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature under the auspices of the tourism and environment ministries.

The Bike Friendly Destination label certifies that a destination or municipality meets a set of stringent criteria that create a ‘cycling identity’ at the destination and make it easier for visitors to use the bicycle during their holidays. It contributes to the promotion of cycling as a way of recreation, sport, and transportation, while at the same time, promotes the municipality of Kos as an alternative tourism destination.

The following Kos hotels have already received “Bike Friendly” certification: Diamond Deluxe Hotel Kos, Kos Hotel Junior Suites, Mitsis Ramira Beach Hotel, Mitsis Summer Palace Beach Hotel, Mitsis Norida Beach Hotel, Mitsis Family Village Beach Hotel, Mitsis Blue Domes Resort & Spa and Neptune Hotels-Resort, Convention Center & Spa.

Other regions or municipalities in Greece that support “Bike Friendly” activities include Rethymno, Chios, Leros, and Thessaly.