After the successful launch of the event ‘Cycling to Velo-city 2022 along the EuroVelo 9 route - promoting safe cycling in the Danube area’ yesterday in Vienna, the representatives of the SABRINA project, Danube Cycle Plans project, EuroVelo coordinators, partners and supporters from Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovenia continue their journey to Ljubljana.

The day started with a press conference in Hartberg, where Heidi Schmitt from Radlobby presented the aim of the bike ride and highlighted the cooperation between both projects and all the organizations included in the event striving for more and safer cycling in the Danube area. 

We were delighted to have the mayor of Hartberg Marcus Martschitsch present at the press conference. He described the cycling projects of the town and highlighted the one focusing on children, trying to motivate them to cycle to school as well as to spend their free time on the bicycle. One of the main goals of the municipality is to build attractive and especially safe cycling infrastructure where people of all ages and abilities will feel comfortable. 

Anton Schuller, the bike coordinator of Hartberg (Radverkehrsbeauftragter für Bewusstseinsbildung) presented the map of cycling routes in the area surrounding Hartberg and the project with neighboring municipalities where they cooperate to build the network of safe bicycle routes in the region. One of the speakers at the press conference was also dr. Stefan Schindler, CEO of the tourism region Eastern Styria (GF Tourismus Erlebnisregion Oststeiermark). He highlighted the efforts to attract more cycling tourism in the area. Besides, they cooperate with small local businesses and help them promote their services since they are the ones who are more attractive to people riding pass by bike than traveling by car through the region. 

Local stakeholders and representatives of the press attending the conference expressed their support for the goals of the SABRINA and Danube Cycle Plans project and efforts of local representatives for more and safer cycling as well as greeted the signature of the mayor of Hartberg Marcus Martschitsch, signing the support for the goals of the pan-European Master Plan for Cycling Promotion. 

Stage 2 of our cycling from Vienna to Ljubljana was more than 100 km long, with over 1000 m of elevation gain, starting in Hartberg and finishing in Bad Radkersburg, Austria. So, most of the day was spent in Styria along with Burgenland. Both Austrian provinces are known not only for their excellent offer for (cycling) tourists but also for their network of cycle tracks and measures to promote cycling.

We are planning to arrive in the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana, on Sunday, 12 June 2022. The biggest cycling summit, the Velo-city conference, where the SABRINA project as well as the Danube Cycle Plans project will be present, will begin on 14 June 2022. Follow our journey also on social media (Twitter, Facebook) and visit the SABRINA project booth next week at the Velo-city conference in Ljubljana. 

          

Photos: Jan Hajšen