A record-breaking cycling event is to happen in Budapest. The 25th April event - called I bike Budapest - aims to bond the name of Hungarian capital's name with cycling once and for all. The event is planned more of a celebration, festival than a demonstration. The event is going to be opened by the Dutch ambassador to Hungary.

Flickr/Zsolt Andrasi

Perhaps a record breaking cycling event is going to take place in Budapest this weekend. I bike Budapest will possibly break previous records as the projections show according to ECF's Hungarian member, the Hungarian Cyclists' Club (HCC): so far more than 10,000 people have joined the event on Facebook and this is a record. Before the last Critical Mass demonstration in 2013 8600 people have joined the event on social media but tens of thousands came and the organisers expect the same to happen this Saturday too with maybe even bigger numbers. The event is going to be supported by 400 volunteers who are going to help to secure the flow of public transport, pedestrians and cars in the most busy road intersections.

The event's main aim is to bond the Budapest's name with cycling once and for all and with the increase in the number of cyclists the city's cycling infrastructure should be also developed. The infrastructure development could be a solution for the Hungarian capital's transport problems.

HCC has a great role in cycling promotion

The Dutch embassy in Hungary is a keen supporter of cycling in the country since many years and the Dutch ambassador, Gajus Scheltema is going to open the event on 25th April. The Dutch ambassador in his welcome message to the cyclists called Budapest a city which is becoming one of the biking capitals of Europe and according to him the Hungarian capital is a cheerful city full with life where cycling culture is steadily developing.

The Dutch ambassador's message to the Hungarian cyclists:

Mr. Scheltema added that cycling is a cheap, healthy and environmentally friendly mode of transport and HCC has a great role in the promotion of cycling. 

Cycling is booming in the Hungarian capital

Biking has been booming in Budapest, according to studies cycling has increased elevenfold in the city in the past 20 years and there are streets where cycling modal share reached 12 percent. Centre for Budapest Transport's aim is to increase cycling modal share to 10 percent in the whole city by 2030 and the city's new bike sharing system could also help to achieve this.

Update: the cycling event in Budapest was the biggest ever in the city with tens of thousands participating. The line of cyclists lasted for more than 15 kms and ended up in a huge celebration on Margaret Island on the river Danube. For photos and more info please click on HCC's webpage.

About the author

Gergely Nagy works as a Communications Intern at ECF, he takes care of ecf.com pages, databases and is involved in several advocacy topics.