Construction of Budapest-Balaton bicycle path has started

According to government plans, the current total length of Hungarian bicycle paths will be increased from 9,100 km to 15,000 km by 2030.

As Péter Cseresnyés, State Secretary in the Ministry for Innovation and Technology (ITM), said:

“Infrastructural conditions of cycling are continuously improved in Hungary; between 2014-2020, HUF 200 billion will be devoted to the construction of a 4,200-kilometre-long cycle path.” He also added that according to the schedule, the designing and building of the 15,000-kilometre-long bike path would be realised by 2030, which is a significant enlargement compared to the current length of 9,100 kilometres.

Péter Cseresnyés also revealed that based on the latest European data, the proportion of Hungarians using bicycles as their primary means of transport has increased to 22% after previous years’ 19%. Accordingly, Hungary is among the first three EU countries besides the Netherlands and Denmark.

The secretary emphasised that approximately 1,250 km of new cycling routes have been developed in Hungary since 2010.

The first phase of the complex renovation of the ‘Balaton Bringakör’ (Balaton Cycle Path) is currently being completed thanks to an investment of HUF 670 million. As a result, certain parts of the 220 km path were repaired, and more signposts have been provided. The renovation will continue in August with the construction of new sections. Presumably, by 2021, the Balaton Brigakör will be completely renewed.

Besides the development of the infrastructure, cycling services are also being extended around the lake. By way of example, with the involvement of the Hungarian Cycling Federation, HUF 1.2 billion of EU funding will be devoted to the realisation of an 800-kilometre-long tour route and three major bicycle service centres along Balaton Bringakör, including Balatonfüred, Keszthely and Balatonföldvár. The implementation of the project has already begun; it is scheduled to be completed in 2020.

As turizmus.com describes, the development of similar services can be expected in other key touristic regions – around Sopron-Neusiedl (‘Sopron-Fertő’) and the Upper Tisza.

In collaboration with the Hungarian Tourism Agency, public bike systems will be established from the financial support of HUF 1.5 billion provided by the government. This would be the tenth public bicycle rental network in Hungary, due to the fact that since 2014, such systems are already operated in Budapest, Debrecen, Esztergom, Győr, Hévíz, Kaposvár, Nagykanizsa, Szeged and along the river Drava.

Péter Cseresnyés added that the construction of the Budapest-Balaton cycle path would get started this year. Within the framework of the project, a 110-kilometre-long route will be built, creating long-term connectivity to the Croatian-Slovenian cycling path network.

Furthermore, the construction of Tiszafüred and Poroszló bike paths is also being realised from the financial support of HUF 4.2 billion. As a result, 6.6 kilometres of bicycle paths will be built, as a result of which Lake Tisza can be completely cycled around. The development is expected to be completed in the spring of 2020.

Additionally, missing bicycle road sections are also under construction between Tokaj-Rakamaz, Pomáz-Szentendre and Hatvan-Apc.

The Ministry for Innovation and Technology is constantly improving the infrastructural conditions of cycling, providing a safe and convenient alternative to private car use – emphasised the State Secretary.

Source: turizmus.com