As the 3rd Pedalafest opens on June 2nd, the first national campaign “Bicycle to Work” comes to an end, with over 660 companies and organisations taking part and pedalling over 250 thousand kilometres, HINA reports on June 1, 2016.
The Bicycle Syndicate Association has cited this three day festival devoted to cycling is the largest event connected to the culture of urban cycling in this part of Europe. The festival takes place from June 2-4 in the Ribnjak Youth Centre, Ribnjak park and Močvara club and is completely run by volunteers.
The daily program will be populated by lectures, performances, workshops, bike revue and intersting workshops for kids, with the night section offering an abundant show of movies, concerts and DJs. Festival opening is on Thursday at 19h, with free entrance to all events.
Pedalafest traditionally ends in a “critical mass”, a bike ride thought town starting from Ribnjak park on Saturday at 19h. “Along with plenty of expert and educational content dealing with sustainable traffic, we have organised a rich entertainment program as well. We are especially proud of being able to host Graham Cavanagh, the man who created a miracle in New York and transformed large automobile avenues into pedestrian-cycling zones,” says Tena Šarić from the Bicycle Syndicate.
This year a record number of city directorates and companies participated in the first national campaign for sustainable traffic in cities. “It’s clear by now that the bicycle is a sure way to reduce traffic congestion, pollution and budget investments in transportation so it should be promoted along with quality cycling infrastructure. The end of the campaign will be celebrated at Pedalafest with foreign experts relaying positive experiences of cities who invested in sustainable traffic and by taking away space for automobiles increased the quality of life for citizens,” noted Marko Stančec from the Bicycle Syndicate.
An active support for the “Bicycle to Work” campaign was shown by cities such as Koprivnica, Karlovac, Rijeka, Pula and Jastrebarsko along with the Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Nature and Environment Protection. Pedalafest is supported by the Danish and Dutch embassies, while the main contribution came in the form of dozens of volunteers who recognise the importance and value of sustainable traffic, the Bicycle Syndicate stated.
