ABOUT 50 citizens gathered on Primaciálne Square in Bratislava on September 22 and called on Mayor Andrej Ďurkovský to improve conditions for cyclists in the Slovak capital. They also asked him to show them a cycling route that would meet all European standards, and would be safe for both children and adults, the vice-chairman of the Green Party Slovakia, Ivan Hirländer, told the SITA newswire.
“Routes in the city are made just for tourists,” said Hirländer. “We want to make the bike a normal means of transport. We also want to move safely along the Danube River or Morava River.”
The Green Party, in cooperation with the Cyklo-Eko organisation, is preparing material looking into the conditions for cycling in Bratislava city districts.
According to Hirländer, they are ready to cooperate with the city on construction of cycle routes and improving conditions for cyclists and in-line skaters.
But they believe the work should be undertaken by the city. Hirländer said he was not planning to set up a working group on the subject.
“We have a local government to work for citizens. We do not intend to substitute the work and powers of the city council,” Hirländer explained.
The city does not plan to create a working group this year, but is planning to do so as part of the project World Day Without Cars 2009. It will then select localities and prepare long-term projects for the construction of new cycling routes.
However, the mayor has said he is prepared to discuss the matter now.
The municipal government also commented on Bratislava’s apparent non-participation in this year’s World Day Without Cars. It did not participate in previous years either.
“The contribution of the city to this year’s World Day Without Cars is the announcement that we will again not be increasing public transport fares,” Katarína Uhrinová of the Mayor’s Office explained.
Two new circuits for cyclists were inaugurated this summer.
The first is 73 kilometres long and leads from Lamač via Biely Kríž, to Pezinská Baba, and back. The second is 31 kilometres long, and leads from Železná Studienka to Biely Kríž, and back.
A cycle route between Bajkalská Street and Trenčianska Street awaits final inspection. Public discussion of the Town Planning Study of the Small-Carpathian part of Bratislava Forest Park is being prepared; part of this includes building new cycling routes. A proposal to reserve money for construction of new cycling routes on Prístavná and Viedenská Streets is also being prepared by the city council. A plan to connect Podunajské Biskupice and Vrakuňa by a cycle path has also been prepared.
