Marina Alta unveils €12.3 million plan to transform walking and cycling across the region

A major new transport proposal could make it easier and safer to travel between Costa Blanca North towns without relying on cars, with hundreds of kilometres of routes, secure bicycle parking and new infrastructure planned.

The Marina Alta is taking a significant step towards a greener transport network, with a €12.3 million regional mobility plan designed to encourage residents and visitors to walk and cycle between its towns and villages.

The Mancomunitat Comarcal de la Marina Alta (MACMA), the inter-municipal association representing the region, has completed its first round of public presentations for the proposed Plan de Mobilitat No Motoritzada.

The ambitious project has an estimated initial budget of €12,351,795.10 and aims to create a connected network of walking and cycling routes linking coastal communities with inland villages.

Residents and municipal representatives have already been invited to help shape the plans, with public consultation sessions held in Calpe, Orba, Pego and Jesús Pobre.

Nearly 400 kilometres of new routes planned

At the heart of the proposal is a network of 77 sections covering a total of 390.4 kilometres.

More than 295 kilometres of existing rural tracks, traditional paths, agricultural routes and quieter roads would be recovered and incorporated into the wider network.

The intention is to make it easier for people to travel between neighbouring municipalities without having to use busy roads or depend on private vehicles.

One particularly important part of the project involves addressing dangerous sections of the existing transport network.

Among the proposed improvements is a new pedestrian and cycling footbridge over the N-332 between Pedreguer and Jesús Pobre.

The plan also aims to connect the Marina Alta with EuroVelo 8, the major Mediterranean cycling route which runs through several European countries.

This would help ensure continuity for cyclists travelling through the region from north to south, potentially strengthening its appeal as a destination for cycling tourism.

Secure bicycle parking and charging stations

The proposal goes beyond creating new routes, with a series of facilities intended to make cycling a more practical option for everyday journeys.

A total of 980 bicycle parking spaces are planned, alongside secure, enclosed BikeBox facilities at important transport and service locations.

These would include all six TRAM stations in the region: Dénia, La Xara, Gata, Teulada, Benissa and Calpe.

Additional facilities are proposed at the Marina Alta regional hospital in La Xara and the Ondara shopping centre.

The plans also include 400 inverted-U steel bicycle stands, providing further parking opportunities across the network.

For electric bicycle users, 35 charging and self-repair stations are proposed. These would offer basic tools for emergency maintenance as well as free charging points for electric bikes.

A dedicated regional mobile application is also envisaged, allowing users to access GPS navigation, planned routes, charging facilities and bicycle repair services.

Residents invited to have their say

Public participation has been an important part of developing the initial proposal.

The presentation sessions took place on November 4 in Calpe, November 5 in Orba and Pego, and November 6 in Jesús Pobre.

Under the slogan ‘La Marina es mou: Vine, escolta, pregunta i participa’, residents were encouraged to share their experiences and identify improvements that could make the proposed network more useful.

Suggestions included specific paths, alternative route alignments and better connections between urban centres.

The consultation process remains open online, with residents able to submit their suggestions through the MACMA website until November 15.

Representatives from the 32 municipalities and three smaller local territorial entities belonging to the association have also been given the opportunity to examine the proposed routes and infrastructure affecting their communities.

Their observations and formal objections will be reviewed before the final document is completed.

Where will the €12.3 million come from?

Although the initial investment has been estimated at more than €12.3 million, the funding has not yet been secured.

Once the definitive plan has been approved, MACMA intends to pursue several funding opportunities, including support from the Alicante Provincial Council, the Valencian regional government, Spain’s Ministry for Ecological Transition and European funding programmes.

Project technical director Nicolau Vives highlighted the importance of reducing dependence on private vehicles, particularly in the face of the energy and climate challenges.

He also pointed to electric bicycles as a particularly useful option in the Marina Alta, where the region’s mountainous landscape can make traditional cycling more challenging.

MACMA president Sergi Ferrús Peris said the public response demonstrated that improving connections between municipalities was a shared priority.

The project is still at the proposal stage, meaning the routes, infrastructure and investment will be subject to further review before implementation.