Italy, despite boasting the G7, lags behind European nations in terms of road maintenance, especially for cycle paths and road surfaces in general.
This article was born from the experience of the “Piccioni”, a group of cyclists from Valtellina who in May traveled 900 km between Slovenia and Croatia, comparing their roads with ours, in particular those of Alta Valtellina.
Alta Valtellina: a paradise for cyclists… if it weren’t for the roads.
Alta Valtellina has seen a boom in cycling tourism in recent years. Cyclists from everywhere are attracted by the epic climbs of Stelvio, Gavia, Bernina and Mortirolo.
But to leave a good memory and encourage you to return, you need safe roads, free of potholes, cracks, depressions and bumps. It would be like comparing breathtaking but unbeaten ski slopes.
Road maintenance: an abyss to fill…
Italian road maintenance often leaves something to be desired, with frequent potholes, deteriorated asphalt and little attention to water drainage.
A comparison with neighboring Switzerland highlights the gap: there the roads are carefully looked after, with targeted and regular interventions, high quality asphalt and an efficient drainage system.
Slovenia and Croatia: an unexpected surprise
On the contrary, in Slovenia and Croatia, despite not being part of the G7, the “Piccioni” cyclists did not find a single pothole along their 880 km route.
In these countries, as in Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, France and others, road maintenance is considered a fundamental investment for the safety and comfort of users, including cyclists.
The causes of our discomfort:
Insufficient or inefficient investments?: are the resources allocated to road maintenance often inadequate or not used to their best advantage?
Lack of attention to quality:
Repair asphalting is often carried out superficially, without intervening on the subgrade and limiting itself to a simple layer of asphalt (“lick”). This practice does not guarantee adhesion and durability, with the need to redo everything after 1-2 years.
Maintenance non-existent or in need of improvement:
It is normal for the ground to settle over time and cracks to form on the asphalt. In all virtuous countries (Switzerland, Holland, France…), when this happens, maintenance is carried out using liquid asphalt in the cracks. This “patch” prevents water from infiltrating, guaranteeing greater life to the asphalt and protecting it from potholes. Liquid asphalt, as illustrated in the attached photo, can be an effective solution for repairing cracks in asphalt, prolonging its useful life.
Lack of controls:
Are checks on the quality of work and ordinary maintenance superficial or absent? Who controls? Who checks the specifications? Who carries out the specifications?
Inefficiency of the Public Administration:
Anas, responsible for managing national roads, is often criticized for its inefficiency and lack of transparency.
Solutions for a (finally) cycling future
The article proposes some solutions to improve the situation:
- Correct use of investments: more resources need to be allocated to road maintenance, with long-term planning and efficient use of funds.
- Quality improvement: asphalting must be carried out with high quality materials and appropriate techniques, ensuring greater durability over time.
- Control and transparency: it is necessary to implement a system of more rigorous controls on the quality of work and ordinary maintenance, with greater transparency in the management of resources.
- Private sector involvement: it could be useful to evaluate the involvement of the private sector in the management and maintenance of roads, through contracts and concessions with rigorous specifications and effective controls.
- Investing for the future of tourism and the economy
- Investing in safe and well-maintained roads is not only a duty for the institutions, but also an investment for the future of tourism and the economy of our country.
The example of Slovenia, Croatia and other European countries demonstrates that it is possible to have better roads, with a benefit for all users, including cyclists.
A group of cyclists
