Wanda Nowotarska in the EuroVelo Council – Western Pomerania's success on the European stage

Who is Wanda Nowotarska?

For over a decade, she has been actively involved in the development of cycling tourism in Poland. She was the first Regional Cycling Officer in the country and is still responsible for the implementation and promotion of routes in the West Pomeranian Province. She also serves as secretary of the Cycling Mobility Coordinators Team of the Association of Polish Provinces. Thanks to her work and commitment, the network of routes in the region—including sections of EuroVelo 10 and 13, known in Western Pomerania as Velo Baltica —has become the basis for the long-distance cycling infrastructure of Western Pomerania. BBC journalists described the region as an "underdog leader in slow-travel biking," which we can paraphrase as "the dark horse of European cycling tourism."

What is EuroVelo?

EuroVelo is a European network of long-distance cycling routes coordinated by the European Cyclists' Federation (ECF). It comprises 17 routes with a total length of over 90,000 kilometers, crossing the entire continent and connecting 40 countries – from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean and from the Atlantic to the Black Sea. The aim of the project is to develop sustainable tourism, promote everyday cycling, and integrate regions through shared infrastructure.

Six EuroVelo routes run within Poland, with a total planned length of approximately 4,828 km.

Role and tasks of the EuroVelo Council

The EuroVelo Council, operating under the European Cyclists' Federation (ECF), consists of 5 to 8 members elected for a three-year term with the possibility of one re-election. It is a prestigious body whose task is to provide strategic advice on the development of the EuroVelo network, set priorities, and ensure the consistency of cycling route standards across Europe. The Council works with the EuroVelo Management Team and the ECF Board to make decisions on, among other things, the admission of new routes to the network, the resolution of conflicts of interest, and the setting of development directions within the EuroVelo 2030 strategy.

Council members meet at least four times a year, including twice in person, usually in Brussels. Nowotarska's election to this body is a great honor for Poland and recognition of the actions taken on the Baltic Sea.

West Pomerania leads the way in Poland

The development of cycle routes in the region would not have been possible without the support of the provincial government. Marshal Olgierd Geblewicz appointed a team responsible for the development of cycling infrastructure and secured funding that enabled the implementation of ambitious projects. As a result, Western Pomerania has become the national leader in bicycle tourism, and its routes are now among the most popular in Poland.

"Without the vision and support of the authorities, this investment would not have been possible," emphasized Nowotarska.

Challenges and prospects

At the national level, Nowotarska has been serving as secretary of the Cycling Mobility Team at the Association of Polish Provinces for six years. Together with other coordinators, she led, among other things, to the creation of the EuroVelo National Coordination Center, which was officially inaugurated in September 2025.

Wanda Nowotarska announces that her goal in the EuroVelo Council will be to strengthen Poland's position on the cycling map of Europe. As she points out, she wants to share the experience gained in a region where cycling tourism has developed almost from scratch. "In countries such as Poland, every new kilometer of route is of great importance. My experience will allow me to support countries that are just beginning to develop the EuroVelo route network," she says.