Catania rejects 8.2 million euros in EU funds for cycling network

The Municipality of Catania has decided to forgo 8.2 million euros in European Union funds intended for the development of the city's urban cycling network. The decision was formalized in a regional decree published on September 23, following a note sent by the mayor in July.

The municipal administration cited the critical impact on traffic viability caused by numerous ongoing construction sites in the city as the primary reason for the withdrawal. However, the environmental association Legambiente Catania has strongly opposed this move, arguing that the technical timelines required for executive design, tendering, and construction would extend well beyond the duration of current roadworks.

Legambiente also criticized the procedural handling of the decision, noting that the renunciation of funds occurred without approval from the municipal board or consultation with the City Council and the public. The association emphasized that the project was the result of years of planning and design competitions dating back to 2019, and that losing these resources will leave existing bike lanes as isolated, non-functional segments in a city with high motorization rates.