Osijek the Bicycle City.
Living in Osijek for almost a year it is hard not recognize the number of bicycle paths throughout the city. It is easy to get around especially if you’re headed towards the town core. The downtown core has changed some of its streets from being once dedicated to cars to being primarily for pedestrians. The one route that is my favorite is along the river Drava. It has many interesting stops along the way from horseback riding, boat rentals, and more.
http://www.eurovelo.com/en/eurovelos/eurovelo-6
Osijek, believe it or not, is located on the International Cycling Route along the Danube you can cross through to other countries from Germany through Austria, Serbia, Romania, and Bulgaria. This is called the Euro Velo 6 a bicycle route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Black Sea.
The advantages are endless because of the city has nearly 40 miles of bike trails. The bike lanes have been clearly marked with a bicycle logo on roads and sidewalks. It has many benefits to the locals and tourists making what one would call the city “The Bicycle city of Croatia.” It is an excellent mode of transit as you get to stop and see things that you could not see in a car. The history of the bike route is relatively new as it all started with the rapid development of cycling tourism, and as people began to realize the importance of health and recreation. There was a need for separate bicycle paths from the road traffic for safety and security. The city also figured that it helped bring the community together, building tourism, from local residents and tourist abroad. The low-impact of bicycles helps the environment and the preservation of Cultural Heritage and ancient historical locations. There is always ongoing partnerships with various organizations bringing new routes.
The best scenic route is along the Drava River with the starting point at Višnjevac (Osijek-Baranja County) then follow the bike trail to downtown Osijek. Along the promenade is a number of cafés which is great to get a refreshing cold drink or coffee. If you have more time and still want to cool down just ride a little bit further over the bridge to the swimming pool Copacabana.
You can even bike over to the Osijek Zoo. I have ridden my bike downtown via the river Drava from the suburbs, enjoying the rich history of the area seeing old ruins being restored. Noticing that the city is growing with new apartment buildings being built on which used to be the original location of Osječko beer factory. One can take a million pictures one day and visit the second day to get an entirely different picture. Take your bike across the famous bridge that crosses the river “The pedestrian bridge “(Croatian: Pješački most). The bridge was built in 1981 designed by Mostgradnja and in 2007 was completely renovated. When you get downtown, it is always best to stop and get refreshments at one of the cafes along the promenade. After a short stop continue down the path to Tvrđa one of the oldest parts in Osijek full of history dating back to 1687.
The old town of Tvrđa played many roles throughout the centuries and still keeps its medieval charm. Here one can see many things of interest from Museum of Slavonia to its antique markets that are the first Saturday of the month. The area is also filled with many different activities happening each and every month.
Osijek-Baranja County has many cycling events, from races to extreme BMX. There are bike clubs that have been around for a while and many great bike shops yet to discover. Total Croatia Cycling will be there to cover the story or find ones that are about to happen.
Source http://www.tzosijek.hr/index.php/upoznajte-osijek/biciklom-kroz-osijek-i-okolicu
