The trip was organized by all North Pilot Area partners, the Ecological Tourism in Europe, in close cooperation with the Westpomeranian Region and the City of Gdansk, and followed a carefully crafted five-stage plan. The team based their journey on extensive desk research and a detailed Tour Script, which outlined daily routes, accommodations, key stops, and service providers. All logistics were arranged in advance, and a dedicated WhatsApp group facilitated smooth real-time communication throughout the trip.
Each day, participants cycled through diverse landscapes while assessing trail conditions, infrastructure, and services. They filled out structured evaluation forms using Google Forms to gather data on cycling conditions, service quality, and the thematic relevance of Points of Interest related to the Iron Curtain. Additionally, daily reports and route condition data were collected and documented for later analysis.
To measure the broader impact of the trip, two innovative tools were employed:
- The CARMACAL CO₂ calculator measured the environmental footprint of the journey, including travel and service consumption.
- The Impact Measurement System, which provided insights into the trip’s influence on tourism development, sustainability, and service effectiveness.
Before the trip, all partners participated in online training sessions to ensure a shared understanding of the tools and evaluation methods. Afterward, completed forms from each partner were submitted and compiled into a comprehensive dataset, from which key findings and recommendations were derived.
This field trip served not only as a practical test of the North Pilot Area but also as a valuable contribution to the Travel Report Document of the ICTr-CE project, bringing us one step closer to enhancing the EuroVelo 13 experience across Central Europe.