Integrating cycling tourism, e-mobility and local development: A spatial model to plan slow tourist paths for E-bikes

This paper discusses the future of slow tourism and the recent development of e-mobility, focusing on vehicles powered by electricity, such as pedal-assisted bicycles. E-bikes present a promising opportunity to promote cycling tourism, as they can be used by a wider range of people and cover greater distances. The paper proposes a spatial planning model for designing cycleways equipped with Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) to integrate e-mobility into a slow tourism project. An original mathematical GIS model is presented, along with its application to a case study: the 700-kilometre VENTO cycle route in Italy, which runs from Venice to Turin alongside the Po River. The mathematical model identifies the optimal locations for e-bike charging stations along the VENTO cycleway, based on criteria that combine technological EVSE improvements with a regenerative approach to marginal territories. Stopping to charge an e-bike encourages people to explore the area. This could help to distribute the positive economic impacts of cycling tourism to less attractive areas.