Along the border – on a bicycle

Director of the Center of Ukrainian-Hungarian Regional Development Iosyp Torpoi told about bicycle travel routes. "The project started in June and is carried out in the framework of the ENPI CBC Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine 2007-2013.  Partners – Transcarpathian Administration, Directorate of Museums of the region, Szabolcs-Satmar-Bereg (Hungary), village of Burehshuran (Hungary) and Road Service in the Transcarpathian region – said Iosyp Torpoi. – The project provides for the construction of cross-border bicycle paths, creating of bicycle parking station in Berehshurani, preparation of the database of tourist attractions along the bike paths, and training of the guides for cycling, which will begin in October."

According to Iosyp Torpoi, bike routs will be laid in Beregovo and Vynogradiv districts.

Also the tourist map for cyclists is being published. 10 bicycles have already been purchased, and tourists will be able to rent them in Uzhgorod and Beregovo tourist centers. 

Vasyl Markovich, Director of the Road Service in the Transcarpathian region said that cycling tourism is a new direction of public authorities activity. "We are just starting to work in this direction.       There are bicycle roads from Kinchesh to Lazy, from Rakoshyno to Mukachevo and in Vynogradiv district. Now we will be creating a network.      We plan to connect Uzhgorod, Mukachevo, Beregovo and Vylok along the Ukrainian-Hungarian border."

Svitlana Kuptsova told about the experience of the European Mobility Week in the Carpathians, how to make cities and towns more friendly to people.   

Volodymyr Feskov, coordinator of the Transcarpathian community center said that the idea of bicycle traffic network in Uzhgorod emerged following the public discussions. "Uzhgorod objectively requires the creation of conditions for movement on bicycles in the city.  Bicycles are also useful from an environmental point of view." 

Vita Munchak, author of "Retrobike" and "Night Ride" projects told more about the idea of night riding. "Night Ride" appeared in 2003 on the initiative to move at night because during the day it was not possible due to high traffic and the lack of equipped roads. Initially 20 cyclists participated, now – 200 people who go on patrol, with flashlights and bells. "Retrobike" started because there was no bike rent in the city. Now not only tourists but also the locals can rent them."

Another major project that concerns the development of bicycle infrastructure is being implemented by the village of Baranyntsi with Uzhgorod City Council and partners from Poland (city of Krosno). It was reported by Nelia Kornyk of Uzhgorod City Council. The total budget is 575 thousand euros for the creation of bicycle tourist center, which will be based in Bozdosh park, purchasing of modern bikes, travel tents needed for bicycle traffic, development of bicycle routes in the city and region and so on. 

At the end of the meeting an interesting guide to the Carpathians was presented. it was prepared by an Englishman Alexander Stamp, who now lives in Budapest. He traveled almost all countries neighboring to Ukraine by bike.      His impressions from trips he descrbed in a book (70 p.).

The book is sold in Europe and America. The publication was presented in Cambridge. The book can be ordered through the Internet, it has gained readers from America, Australia and even Hong Kong.  In Uzhgorod it is sold in Tourist Information Center.

Source: Uzhgorod Press Club