To the question "What is Rome's Grab?" we can confidently answer that it will be the 44-kilometre cycle route around the city that will give a new future to cycling mobility and cycle tourism in the capital. It is an opportunity to launch cycling tourism in the Eternal City and to make two-wheeled commuting easier for daily travellers.

The government has allocated funds for national cycle routes, among which the Grande raccordo anulare per le biciclette is included: Roma Capitale gave the green light to the process in August 2016 and submitted the project documents to the Ministry of Transport. The costs of the project are currently estimated at 15 million euros.

The Grab drives the economy: what the Confindustria study says

A study by Confindustria-Ancma carried out for Legambiente and VeloLove reveals encouraging data on the development of the Grande raccordo anulare per le biciclette: in its first year it would bring 600,000 tourists to Rome and generate revenues of 14 million euros, which would grow exponentially in subsequent years. The data show that an investment in the Grab would pay for itself within a very short time, guaranteeing greater revenues for Roma Capitale and generating new businesses.

What is Rome's Grab: an economically sound and profitable investment

In fact, there are already those who have put together tourist packages offering guided tours that describe what Rome's Grab is. The route is in any case already rideable by bicycle, as has already happened informally on several occasions over the years. All that is needed is some safety work and improvements to the usability of certain stretches through green areas, which would cost just 500,000 euros. With an expenditure of four million euros it would instead be possible to create a fully fledged, well-defined cycle route. Indeed, the project was conceived with a tourist vocation but can also prove useful for a portion of urban cyclists wishing to reach certain neighbourhoods or the metro and regional rail stations.

What is Rome's Grab: a nationally prioritised infrastructure

"The Grab is one of the national cycle routes for which funding was provided in the 2016 Stability Law. This means that the route around Rome has been recognised as a national sustainable mobility infrastructure and as an attractor and generator of a green economy" — these are the words of Infrastructure and Transport Minister Graziano Delrio on the importance of the Grab di Roma project. A priority also recognised by the Olympic Committee for the 2024 Olympics.

A cycling Grand Tour — that is what Rome's Grab is

The Grab di Roma would become a cycling Grand Tour through which it is possible to reach places steeped in history such as the Appia Antica, as well as symbols of modernity such as the Maxxi museum, passing by the Colosseum, Circus Maximus and St Peter's. Green space takes centre stage: the ring plunges into the parks of the Caffarella and the Acquedotti and reaches historic villas such as Villa Ada and Villa Borghese, not to mention the stretches that border the Tiber, the Aniene and the Almone stream.

An important characteristic that led to the conception of the Grab is the approach linked to participatory design by individuals and communities who know the areas reached by the circular route.