Sofia to put more emphasis on bycicles

19:17 Fri 04 Apr 2008 - Elitsa Grancharova

Only one bicycle lane will be built in Sofia in 2008, but the city hall will do its best to establish bieks as a mode of transportation in the Bulgarian capital, city chief architect Petar Dikov told The Sofia Echo on April 3.

“There is an idea to make a bicycle lane also along the river, Evlogi Georgiev Boulevard, but the only one that has real working projects, quantity calculations and for which an auction can be called, is along Tsar Boris III Boulevard,” Dikov said.

Tsar Boris III Boulevard will also be modernised, but the one million leva allocated for the renovation will not be enough to replace the pavement surface with asphalt. The money will be used for partial repairs, as the whole boulevard is 7km long.

The bicycle lane that runs alongside it, which already exists but is in quite bad condition, will be repaired using some of the 5.3 million leva allocated for bicycle lanes and pavements construction and reconstruction in 2008.

“We are currently preparing projects for bicycle lanes in Mladost, we are also starting in Lyulin. I have said that I will insist firstly the bicycle lanes to be constructed in the two big neighborhoods, which have metro access, and connect them (the lanes) with the metro stations so that bicycles are used as public transport, rather than a fitness device. Whoever wants to keep fit can ride (a bike) in the parks, even if there are no especially designed bicycle lanes. But if we want to turn it into a mode of city transportation, as it is throughout the world, then we will have to connect it with main public transport, such as the subway,” Dikov said.

While reconstructing the pavements in the city, ramps for the handicapped will be put in as well, as required by existing regulations, he added.

Comments

Comments by cheryl - 18:27 04 Apr 2008
	It's all very well creating cycle lanes but if you can't teach the Bulgarians not to walk in them, park in them, drive motorbikes down them then they're no use to anyone.
Comments by Dianne Hatton - 22:53 04 Apr 2008
	I think that the 5.3M Lv would be better spent on something more useful like upgrading orphanages or animal shelters. I am a keen biker but wouldn't dream of riding one in Bulgaria. 95% of car drivers have no regard for other drivers, a poor cyclist wouldn't stand a chance. I think most Sofians would sooner walk than risk their life in the Capital on a bike.
Comments by Dianne Hatton - 22:56 04 Apr 2008
	Even better idea. Maybe the chief architect and the whole cabinet should be the first ones to ride around Sofia on bikes, that would help reduce the verbal pollution that comes out of the Capital.
Comments by elitsa - 09:23 07 Apr 2008
	Yes, but the problem is that "the chief architect and the whole cabinet" would NOT be "the first ones to ride around Sofia on bikes", as many people already do cycle in Sofia to go to work, for instance. So according to me, they also deserve to be provided with proper infrastructure, as bikes are sold in shops without restrictions. Why then cyclists should be restricted to ride in the city by not being provided by bicycle lanes? As according the "Bulgarians' culture", it would take some time but I suppose people would learn as did everybody around the world.