An entire community is mobilizing for cyclist safety. 15 Municipalities in the Pinerolo area have joined an important initiative that will lead to the installation of 29 "I Respect the Cyclist" signs throughout the territory, reminding drivers of the minimum safety distance of 1.5 meters during overtaking, a norm officially entered into the Highway Code on December 14, 2024. The initiative, promoted by Upslowtour-Pinerolese Terra di Bici - the cycling tourism mobility project of the Pinerolo Mountain Union - will see Paola Gianotti, ultra cyclist, coach, and environmental activist, co-founder of the "I Respect the Cyclist" Association together with Marco Cavorso and Maurizio Fondriest, as the protagonist.

A bicycle tour to unite territories

Between Tuesday 28 and Wednesday 29 October, Paola Gianotti will cycle through the 15 involved Municipalities, inaugurating signs in each municipal territory. A symbolic journey that unites local communities around a common goal: making roads safer for all users.

"Seeing 15 Municipalities united for cyclist safety is something extraordinary. These signs are much more than simple signage: they represent a message of respect towards all those who choose bicycles, for sport, passion, or daily commuting," says Paola Gianotti. "It is an honor to cycle through a beautiful territory like Pinerolo and inaugurate these signs together with local administrations, which add to the over 12,000 already installed throughout Italy. In our country, a cyclist dies every 35 hours, and most accidents occur during overtaking. We need concrete awareness actions because the safety issue is still too little considered. This territory is giving a strong signal of cultural change."

What is "I Respect the Cyclist"

Founded in 2014, the cultural association "I Respect the Cyclist" aims to spread a culture of respect for cyclists on the road. Born from the meeting between Paola Gianotti, Marco Cavorso (father of Tommaso, killed while cycling at 14) and world cycling champion Maurizio Fondriest, the association has been fighting for over ten years to make Italy a safe country for cycling.

The association has been to Parliament several times to request the introduction in the Highway Code of a minimum safety distance of one and a half meters during overtaking, a goal achieved in December 2024. To date, over 12,000 signs have been installed in more than 400 Municipalities throughout Italy, from Turin to Siena, from Alba to Bologna.

Upslowtour-Pinerolo Land of Bikes: from cycle tourism to road safety

The initiative is part of Upslowtour-Pinerolo Land of Bikes, the project launched in 2021 by the Pinerolo Mountain Union that transformed the territory into a cycling tourism reference point, with 15 loop routes covering over 400 km, dedicated infrastructure, and a network of over 30 partner companies.

Mauro Vignola, President of the Pinerolo Mountain Union and Mayor of Bobbio Pellice, comments: "We are very satisfied with this collaboration with Paola Gianotti and her association, realized within the 'Upslowtour-Pinerolo Land of Bikes' project. The placement of 'I respect the cyclist' signs in 15 Pinerolo Municipalities is a concrete signal of attention to road safety and citizen awareness. As the Pinerolo Mountain Union, promoters of the project with the support of Turin and Province Tourism, we believe that respect between drivers and cyclists is the basis for more sustainable mobility and the promotion of our territory in a cycle tourism perspective. We hope that this initiative can inspire other Pinerolo and nearby valley Municipalities, so that our territory continues to grow as an example of hospitality and safety for those who choose bicycles."

A replicable model

The compact adherence of the 15 Municipalities represents a virtuous model of institutional cooperation that could be replicated in other territories. The goal is clear: reduce accidents through awareness, allowing children and adults to safely use bicycles on the roads.