Zagreb’s new momentum towards becoming a cycling city

By

23 Aug, 2022

ECF welcomes the City of Zagreb to Cities & Regions for Cyclists (CRC), a network that brings together local and regional administrations actively working to promote cycling as a mode of transport and leisure.

The City of Zagreb is the capital and biggest city of Croatia, with a population of approximately 900,000 inhabitants, representing 20% of the country’s population. In recent years, the city has increasingly focused on cycling as a transportation solution, along with other micromobility options, in the pursuit of sustainable development, improved liveability for citizens, as well as greater attractiveness for tourists and visitors. Zagreb has been recently announced as the only Croatian city to be selected for EU’s mission of 100 climate-neutral and smart cities!

Cycling progress & highlights

Previous investments in cycling infrastructure have resulted in approximately 500 km of cycle lanes, 3,000 spaces of free public bicycle parking, as well as numerous projects and plans with an overarching objective of 8% bicycle modal share by 2025 (at 3% in 2017).

New cycling infrastructure, City of Zagreb

One of the main challenges faced by the city is public attitude and habits when it comes to mobility. Education and promotion are a staple in the city’s strategy, addressing all age groups, including children, to develop cycling culture from an early age. Since 2007, Zagreb has been actively participating in European Mobility Week (EMW). The city is also dedicating an entire month to cycling promotion each year since 2018, with the month of May becoming widely known as the month of spokes (Žbicanj). Week-long and month-long activities are further supported by ongoing awareness-raising campaigns and civic engagement events by the city administration in collaboration with local stakeholders such as NGOs, private businesses and other institutions.

“Small bike ride” for children up to six years old at “Žbicanj”

Ongoing developments and next steps

The new administration at the City of Zagreb is currently working on the implementation of a number of new bicycle highways so that commuting by bike within the city becomes faster and safer than by car. By the end of 2022, the city intends to increase and improve cycling infrastructure and public space allocated to bicycles. This will be achieved through the introduction of shared lane usage, 30 km/h zones, as well as 3,000 new bike lanes that are separated from pedestrian sidewalks and motorised traffic. Particular attention is given to connecting existing bike lanes into a city network, reducing the number of motorised vehicles in the city centre, and thereby increase the number of pedestrian zones in the same area. Furthermore, the city is actively involved in the development of the National Cycling Strategy currently underway.

Tomislav Tomašević, Mayor of the City of Zagreb

One of the projects the city is particularly proud of is the “Greenway-National Bicycle Route No. 2”. The 132 kilometre Greenway Cycling Route will be connecting the border with the Republic of Slovenia in the West to the border of Zagreb County (Lijevi Dubrovčak) in the East. With 50.1 km passing directly through the City of Zagreb, the Greenway will also provide a fast and safe route for cyclists and will used as a major transport artery for freight in terms of urban last mile delivery. Facilities and equipment along the route will include lighting, e-bike charging stations, rest areas, parking, info markings and traffic meters. The project is part of sustainable urban and regional mobility projects that aim to promote sustainable travel, improve road safety and ensure connectivity of cycling roads in the City of Zagreb with Zagrebacka County.

Zagreb joins a network of cities and regions committed to promoting cycling as a mode of transport and leisure, collectively representing almost 50 million citizens across Europe and beyond. For more information on ECF’s CRC network and how to join, visit our Cities & Regions for Cyclists page. For more information on the City of Zagreb visit: www.zagreb.hr