European Greenways Association

European Greenway Association (EGWA)

In May 1997, it was decided within the framework of the First European Conference on Soft Traffic and Railways Paths (Val-Dieu, Belgium) to set up the European Greenways Association. This association was created by many local, regional and national associations active in the scope of sustainable transport willing to share their knowledge and objectives at a European level.

The objectives of the EGWA are :

1. To contribute towards the preservation of infrastructures such as disused railway corridors, tow paths and historic routes (Roman roads, pilgrim's path, drove ways,...) in the public domain to develop, along them, non-motorised itineraries.
2. To encourages the use of non-motorised transport, draws up inventories of potential routes and writes technical reports.
3. To promote and coordinate the exchange of expertise and information among different associations and national and local bodies which are currently developing these initiatives in Europe.
4. To Inform and advise local and national bodies on how to develop non-motorised itineraries.
5. To collaborate with European bodies to support their policies in term of sustainable development, environment, regional balance and employment.

The EGWA is active at different levels: To provide information about all aspects of the creation of a greenway from the first discussion to the delivery of the finished greenway for all the actors of the deployment. This includes technical info, political & administrative info, ... Lots of studies have been performed by the association and are freely available. To provide information to greenways users (location, surfaces, ...) via the portal European Greenway Observatory.

A greenway is a stand alone route for non-motorised traffic, developed with the following objectives: to integrate facilities & increase environmental value and quality of life. Greenways encompass the following characteristics: suitability of width, slope & surface to allow secure appropriate use for a wide range of users including mobility impaired people. Greenways are often located on old railways, on towpaths, Roman roadway or old pilgrimage ways (Declaration of Lille, September 2000)