Bike revolution in Budapest - Critical Mass

Budapest is becoming a biker city. Pest is totally flat and that is where more or less you move around - so more and more people are switching to wire donkeys (hmm, i have told you that Hungarian language is creative - this is another word for bike)  instead of cars and public transport.

Still not enough though, and the world wide known Critical Mass initiative is very active here. You will notice it from the omni- present cute stickers around :)

Usually twice a year, around Earth's day (22nd April) and around 20th September (European Mobility Week and Carfree days) thousands and thousands of magyar bikers occupy the streets for a few hours and fight for their right to BIKE!

The movement was initiated by a few guys of local cycle messenger companies (HajtásPajtás) and now is one of the biggest Critical Masses in Europe.


Apart from the political pressure it try to exercise (more bicycle roads, banning the cars from the centre etc,) it is usually a huge lot of fun as well. You go with friends and a beer, or your dog, your children whatever you like.

Sometimes the bikers' crowd reached from Moszkva tér till Blaha Lujza tér, crossing more bridges on the way.  It used to end on Heroes Square where there was the notorious "bike-lifting" and there are usually some parties afterwards as well.

This year, however, there is a "shorter" route between the Margaret Bridge and the Petőfi Bridge on the principal boulevard (Nagykörút) with no traffic stopping. Afterwards, there is a meeting of professionals and politicians in gödör about - yes you have guessed - biking and healthy transport in Budapest.

http://www.budapestzin.com

Come and join us tomorrow on 22nd September! Soon we will have the public bike renting system and till that, you can rent for example from budapestbike.


To know about cyclable roads, click here.

And be careful, wear lights and helmets, bikers are not always respected :( However, they are definitely cool.