Cycle routes and greenways

Cycle routes

Cycle routes are medium- to long-distance itineraries along quiet roads, cycleways and greenways. As well as linking regions, they also guarantee safe cycling routes through towns and cities. Depending on its length and importance, a cycle route may have local, regional, national or even European outreach.

Cycle routes must meet the following criteria:

Linearity: the route must follow the most direct itinerary possible from town to town.
Continuity: the route must be continuous, including sections through towns and cities.
Safety: users must be able to cycle safely, protected from motor vehicles. The safety aspect also concerns other features of the route, such as river and canal banks, etc.
Signposting and waymarking: the route must be clearly signposted using a specific, uniform and easily identifiable system of signs and waymarkers.
Services: the route must offer users certain services linked to cycling, tourism, public transport especially trains), information and bookings.
Maintenance: the route must be permanently maintained.
Usage: the route must be suitable for all cyclists, including the least experienced. In general, inclines will be gentle (around 3%), except in mountain areas, where the itinerary will follow the route with the lowest gradients.
Conditions of use: the route must be attractive to cyclists; however, its use is not mandatory, and cyclists may choose to follow other routes. Cycle routes will follow the safest bicycle route and greenways will be used wherever possible.

Cycle route safety tips:
- Wear a helmet.
- Follow the highway code at all times and in all circumstances.
- Be aware of other vehicles on sections shared with motor traffic.
- Watch your speed.
- Ride in single file.
- Take care when overtaking other users.

Dogs are not allowed on cycleways.

Emergency services: tel 112 (single European emergency number).

Cycle routes in Savoie and Haute-Savoie

Grand Lac Cycle Route
Heading north, this 45-km route joins the famous "Lake Geneva to the Sea" (Du Léman à la Mer) cycle route at Chanaz, a picturesque village beside the Canal de Savières. Heading south, it joins the Combe de Savoie section of the Préalpes Cycle Route at Montmélian.

North of Chambéry: 13 km of the 14-km cycle route between Chambéry and the Les Mottets leisure area is on a dedicated cycleway (Avenue Verte Nord). A further 5 km of cycle route, from Les Mottets to the Rowing Beach at Aix-les-Bains will soon be completed. This will connect with a 2-km section of the Aix-les-Bains cycle network and a further 24 km of cycle route that is in the planning stage.

South of Chambéry: 14.5 km of the 18-km route have been built between Chambéry and the Granier service station, including 6.5 km on a dedicated cycleway (Avenue Verte Sud). A 3.5-km section along quiet roads is in the planning stage.

Préalpes Cycle Route in the Combe de Savoie
This is the Savoie section of the cycle route from Annecy to Valence, via Albertville and Grenoble. When complete, a safe 65-km cycle route will link Ugine, Albertville, Grésy-sur-Isère, Saint-Pierre-d'Albigny and Montmélian.
Currently, 8 km have been built between the Haute-Savoie border and Ugine, a 7-km section between Ugine and Albertville is in the planning stage, and 5 km follow Albertville's and Montmélian's cycle networks. Studies for the remaining 45 km are pending.

Lake Geneva to the Sea (Du Léman à la mer) Cycle Route
"Lake Geneva to the Sea" is one of France's national cycle-route projects. Eventually it will consist of 650 km of cycle routes and cross three regions: Rhone-Alpes, Languedoc-Roussillon, and Provence-Alpes-Côtes d'Azur.
Twelve "départements" are involved: Haute-Savoie, Savoie, Ain, Isère, Rhone, Loire, Drôme, Ardèche, Vaucluse, Gard, Hérault and Bouches-du-Rhone.
To date, most progress has been made on the sections in the départements of Savoie, Haute-Savoie and the Ain.

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Section of the Lake Geneva to the Sea Cycle Route
(From La Balme to the port of Grolée)
This 18-km section of the Lake Geneva to the Sea cycle route follows the meanders of the Rhone through the Avant-Pays Savoyard, and connects La Balme, near Yenne, to Saint-Genix-sur-Guiers. On the opposite bank of the Rhone, the cycle route continues through the Ain, from Murs-et-Geligneux to the port of Grolée. In total, this section covers 30 km through bucolic countryside and picturesque villages.

Greenways

Greenways are traffic-free routes for pedestrians, cyclists, in-line skaters, people with reduced mobility and, in certain cases, horse riders. They are designed to provide leisure and tourism resources, as well as safe cycling/walking/skating routes for local people.
As well as being safe and clearly signposted, they must be accessible to all, without placing any major physical demands on users. Every section of a greenway must satisfy the needs of all its target users.

Greenways in Savoie and Haute-Savoie:

• Avenue Verte Nord (Chambéry - Le Bourget du Lac) 11.5 km.
• Avenue Verte Sud (Chambéry - Myans) 8 km.
• Avenue Verte de Tarentaise (Aime - Bourg-Saint-Maurice) 12 km.
• Lake Annecy Greenway (Annecy - Faverges) 31 km.