May 11, 2023 - A challenge for all cyclists at this year's Baranja Rural Trail, meet :BRUT 2023.

For the third year in a row, specifically on June 17th, 2023, in the east of Croatia, in Beli Manastir, a gravel/XC cycling race called Baranja Rural Trail or better known as :BRUT is being held. The race was brought to life by cycling enthusiasts from the Baranja and Tourism Association (BIT) to provide all cyclists and guests from Croatia and abroad with an excellent experience of eastern Croatia, specifically Baranja, as an excellent cycling destination.

The first edition of the race was held in 2021 with the participation of 110 competitors from all over Croatia. In 2022, 140 participants took part in :BRUT, and in 2023, the organizers expect an even greater number of competitors from Croatia and surrounding countries.

If you thought that Baranja was flat and that cycling through it would be easy, you were wrong. With an elevation profile of 500 to 1000 meters, the brutal race route passes through unpaved roads, surduk (a carved path on a mountainside), forests, and fields.

During the ride, competitors choose between a shorter route of 25 km or a brutal route of 50 km - depending on how they feel. :BRUT can be ridden on all types of MTB, CX, and gravel bikes, including e-bikes. The surface on which :BRUT is ridden is mostly dirt road, with only a small part being paved or covered with medium-grained gravel. Depending on the weather conditions, the surface can be softer or harder, and in case of rain, muddy.

For all those who come to Baranja a day earlier, on Friday, June 16th, 2023, a night individual time trial (ITT) called :BRUT Stars will be held. On a short circular track in the Baranja vineyards, 1200 meters long, competitors will compete in two rides, and the participants of the final will secure the first starting row in the :BRUT race.

Registrations for :BRUT2023 are open and can be found on the website www.baranjaruraltrail.com. If you are interested, hurry with your registration as the number of competitors is limited.

":BRUT is more than just a cycling race. :BRUT represents the beauty of Baranja and goes beyond the outstanding gastronomic and enological offers. :BRUT is a story of challenge, perseverance, and the success of every competitor. :BRUT is pure emotion!" – :BRUT team

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Website: www.baranjaruraltrail.com

April 6, 2023 - In less than two weeks, the longest-running Baranja cycling event will take place starting in Draž - the 7^th in a row Deer and Bike. For the first time, the route is entering Hungary.

As SiB writes, on Saturday, April 15, 2023, the 7^th Deer and Bike will be held in Draž. This bike ride provides an experience of everything Baranja offers, from the Danube forests and ridges, its surduci, and Bansko hill viewpoints to tasting traditional treats of the šokadija. The Deer & Bike ride is intended for tourist purposes, with a healthy dose of education. The pace is leisurely, and the goal is not to rush through nature but to enjoy it. Most of the cycling event is held on side and field roads, and the organizer points out that because of the Baranja hill, there will be several steeper climbs.

In addition to riding along the Danube and the chirping of birds, climbing and descending through surduci, the unique feature of this year's cycling event is the celebration of Croatia's entry into Schengen by visiting Hungary! The plan is to enter Hungary through the Danube forests, then reach the Danube and learn about the Baranja wastelands. The routes are 55 or 30 kilometers for those a bit less in shape, with the fact that the first half of the route is completely flat and forested, while the second part is hilly and much more strenuous.

We recommend riding an MTB bike and wearing a helmet! The cycling race starts at 11 a.m. in Draž, at the Stipe Đurina square. The registration fee for the bike ride is 20 euros and covers the cost of lunch, a T-shirt, and a tourist guide. The organizers of the cycling event are the association Karašicka Republika and the trade Terra Incognita with the support of the Draž Municipality Tourist Board. There are still very few places left, so we suggest all interested apply as soon as possible!

You can find more information about the event and registration on the Landranje Baranjom Facebook page and the FB event.

By the way, rumors have started circulating in the Danube forests that this year's first Landranje in Baranja event will be held on Saturday, May 6, 2023 — more information on the Landranje Baranjom FB page.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated Travel section.

March the 27th, 2023 - Great news for Croatian cyclists, that is if we're to believe the official part line as it were, as investments totalling 167 million euros are set to be poured into new infrastructure and safety.

As Poslovni Dnevnik/Jadranka Dozan writes, if promises from the National Plan for the Development of Bicycle Transport are to be believed, Croatian cyclists are set to be much better off, both in terms of overall infrastructure upgrades and in terms of general safety. In the proposal of the National Plan, investments in this field totalling almost 167 million euros between the years 2023 and 2027 have been defined

In addition to the modernisation of the existing infrastructure (which is desperately needed, especially here in Zagreb) and the construction of more new cycling infrastructure, part of the planned investments are also aimed at increasing safety, for which 1.82 million euros should be invested over the next four to five years.

All together, all of these investments and improvements should result in an increase in the number of Croatian cyclists all over the country. According to surveys of travel habits conducted for the purposes of creating the National Traffic Model (back in 2016), the amount of Croatian cyclists using their bikes as their main means of transport was below the EU average.

According to the comparative data referred to by the authors of the analysis, the daily use of bicycles for the EU member states amounted to about eight percent for the reference year, and six percent in Croatia, while the Netherlands (36%) and Denmark (23%) had the largest share of bicycle use.

To reach the European Union average, investments are needed across all segments of bicycle traffic, from infrastructure as a prerequisite for safety and the expansion of the range of services (a system of public bicycles, parking and other accompanying facilities), to the promotion and education of future road users.

The draft proposal for the National Plan for the Development of Bicycle Traffic 2023-2027 was prepared for the competent ministry (transport) by the Faculty of Transport Sciences in Zagreb in cooperation with its partners, and it has been put to public debate for a month now. For the purposes of its creation, data was collected on the "modal distribution of bicycle trips". They make up 3% in Zagreb, 8.3% in Slavonski Brod, 8% in Sisak, 6% in Zadar, and Varazdin has the largest share, 26%. However, the fact that in the end, data on this was obtained for only 5 of the 29 largest Croatian cities (with more than 20,000 inhabitants living in them) points to challenges in the systematic collection, processing and analysis of traffic indicators in most cities.

The National Plan is based on the strategic goals of the EU in the field of green and sustainable mobility and the goals of several strategies Croatia currently has in the field of transport, tourism, environmental protection, healthcare and sport. The National Recovery and Resilience Plan also mentions encouraging bike traffic in several places.

The bike market here in Croatia is generally growing, and this statement in the analysis is supported by data from the CBS on the number of imported/exported bicycles from 2010 to 2020, which show that in recent years, imports accounted for about 100 thousand classic bicycles (without electric motors), and exports accounted for about 30 thousand.

Over more recent years, bicycles with electric motors have become increasingly prominent. For example, in 2020, 38,000 e-bikes were imported and 13,000 were exported, while back in 2016, around 5,000 were imported and 700 were exported. The demand for bikes in this country also speaks volumes about the potential for their greater use as a means of transportation, the authors conclude.

Among other things, public bicycle systems are an excellent complement to bus, tram, railway and other public transport systems, they noted, adding that their role is to make these systems more accessible to users. Back at the beginning of 2021, a public bicycle service was available in 33 Croatian cities, with 219 stations and over 1,350 bicycles on offer to the public.

For more, check out our news section.

March the 22nd, 2023 - Accession to the borderless, passport-less Schengen zone has been excellent for Croatia and will be for its strongest economic branch - tourism. One type of tourism, however, Croatian cycling tourism, is set to benefit the most.

As Marija Crnjak/Poslovni Dnevnik writes, entry into Schengen is an enormous opportunity for Croatian cycling tourism, given that borders no longer exist even administratively, we can begin to see the whole of Europe as a single, large market that needs to be discovered, its needs and wishes understood, and the huge cycling tourism potential of this country fully valorised.

''That said, we'll hardly hardly be able to use this huge potential without making some significant investments in infrastructure, catering and hospitality services and stronger support from local and national tourist agencies,'' warned Karlo Kucan, an organiser of the three-day Days of Cycle Tourism conference, which will be held from May the 10th to the 12th in Sinj.

It's the first and so far the only Croatian specialised professional conference intended for this segment of the tourism offer, and it brings together various representatives of Croatian cycling tourism stakeholders, from ministries, the Croatian Tourist Board, agencies, local self-government representatives to clubs and equipment manufacturers.

The conference is held in a different place every year, and the Adriatic and continental destinations alternate. The fifth edition of the Day of Cycle Tourism is going to be held in Sinj, given that the gorgeous Dalmatian hinterland has numerous excellent predispositions for the development of this type of tourism.

"In addition, the proximity of the largest coastal tourist centres, good traffic connections, well-preserved nature, a dynamic and diverse landscape and a wealth of heritage attractions, as well as food and wine offers, make this region valuable in terms of resources. We chose the theme ''No borders, no limits'', because after several challenging years, in which special forms of tourism, especially Croatian cycling tourism, have shown remarkable resilience, it's now time to fully develop its potential by using the incredible opportunities provided by Schengen's freedom without borders.

Suffice it to say that the cycling tourism market in Europe is worth a massive 44 billion euros, which is more than the entire cruising industry, which receives significantly more attention in Croatia. In addition, the global coronavirus pandemic has done a lot for the promotion of Croatian cycling tourism, because people have turned much more towards outdoor activities, to destinations that aren't overcrowded,'' Kucan explained.

"Croatia declares itself declaratively a country that wants to invest in cycling tourism, but the Slovenians have invested more in the Drava cycle route alone than we have in the infrastructure of the entire country. When building new roads, we're oriented towards motor vehicle traffic and the plans don't include paths that would be not only for tourists but also for local residents on two wheels. There are a lot of ungraded roads that could get such infrastructure if it were thought about at the local level. Another important factor is the offer. Cycling tourists come outside the summer season, and in many destinations in Croatia, they have nowhere to sleep, hotels, restaurants, and shops are no longer open. It's a question of the cooperation of all of those involved at the level of local government units, and not merely a question of one single ministry,'' Kucan added.

In addition, agencies specialising in Croatian cycling tourism can still be counted on one hand, so it happens that partners from abroad cannot find a local agency that will help them organise a trip.

For more, check out our news and travel sections.

October 21, 2022 - Bikademy, an innovative cycling tourism product, opened a new Study - Novalja, in the northern part of the island of Pag.

Pag is called Moon island for a reason. Its eastern part resembles the surface of the moon, with its landscape stripped by the northern wind Bura. Using the moon as a leitmotif, Bikademy launched the "Cycling on the Moon" campaign, emphasizing that we don't have to travel far to find unique experiences.

Bikademy functions like an academy whose users are called Bikademy Students. To become a Bikademy Student, you need to download and register on the free Bikademy application. The application offers Studies that represent a specific region or city. Inside each Study, there is a list of Exams, locations within the Study, to which you need to cycle and check in via the application. The course is completed by checking in at each exam, after which Bikademy rewards students with gifts from their sponsor, Giant Croatia.

The Novalja study consists of seven exams: the charming town of Lun, the popular Novalja and Zrće beaches, Novaljsko Polje, the incredible Svetojanj fortress, Ručica beach, and Žigljen.

The campaign started with the publication of this video.

Krešimir Herceg, the owner of Bikademy, points out that the bicycle is the ideal means of exploring the destination because it is slow enough to experience the surroundings and fast enough to cover longer distances, which is perfect for exploring the northern part of Pag.

As a product, Bikademy complements the Pag Outdoor project, which brands the destination through outdoor tourism. "With synergy and connection, Novalja forms a new image. In addition to being a party destination, it is also becoming an ideal destination for active tourism, which is evident from the continuous growth in the number of active tourists," added the director of the Tourist Board of the city of Novalja, Marina Šćiran Rizner.

As Bikademy adds, a bicycle is all you need to visit the moon.

The opening of this Study was made possible by the Novalja Tourist Board, PPD, and Enna Grupa, and the rewards, as always, are provided by Giant Hrvatska.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated Travel section.

August 30, 2022 - At the junction of Slavonia and Srijem, through vineyards and hills, forests and plains, through museums and monuments, where the Danube kisses the sky, on September 3, a new BRUTAL bicycle race is coming. After a successful race in Beli Manastir, in Baranja, BRUT arrives in Vukovar. It is a 25 or 50 km race through vineyards, fields, forests, and unpaved roads.

In addition to the race itself, on September 1 and 2, we can expect a bicycle tour of the Bata-Borovo industrial heritage as well as street art murals as part of the VukovArt program, a tourist tour around Vukovar, a children's race and a traffic safety workshop, and of course, evening entertainment programs on the 2^nd and on the 3^rd day of the event.

The full program, as presented on the official website of :BRUT, will look like this:

September 1, 2022 :BRUT Murali starting at 16:00 - 18:00 tour of the city of Vukovar and murals on buildings by bike.

September 2, 2022 :BRUT

Small children's races starting at 10:00 and duration until 12:00, city center Vukovar.
Preschool kids, 100m races.

Traffic safety - joint action with the Ministry of Interior and PD Vukovar.

September 2, 2022 :BRUT Sights starting at 16:00 a tour of the sights in the city of Vukovar – a tourist tour by bike and then a gathering in the bar "Vukovarsko naj".

September3, 2022 :BRUT Vukovar  

:BRUT official race map

Start of the race on September 3, 2022 at 16:00h (registration of participants from 14:00h)
Start - zone target: Salaš Goldschmidt (on the road between Vukovar and Sotin)
Length 25 km and 50 km (choice of route on the trail)
The path is circular in shape. Cyclists ride 1 lap in the 25km race and 2 laps in the 50km race.
The time limit (time-cut) is 3:00h (until 19:00h), and everyone who does not complete one lap in 80 minutes will not be able to go to another and will be counted time for :BRUT Vukovar 25.

After the race, lunch and drinks are provided for all participants and :BRUT Chill with a DJ, fun and socializing. 

For an awesome weekend of walking, cycling, and enjoying the sights and events, we encourage you to apply here (participation includes the start package, meal and drink, and guaranteed entertainment).

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated Lifestyle section.

August the 20th, 2022 - A brand new Marjan public bike system is soon set to take to the ''Green lungs of Split'' as getting around on two wheels as a more environmentally friendly and healthy way of getting from point A to point B continues being promoted.

As Morski writes, as part of the wider "Choose a Bike/Biraj biciklu" project, the City of Split has started preparatory work for the installation of a terminal in the area of ​​the Marjan Forest Park. Marjan public bike terminals will be installed at five different locations on Marjan in the following areas: Spinutska vrata, Bene, Kasjuni, ZOO vrt and on the Prva vidilica plateau.

Just a few days ago, the installation of the public bicycle system at the Spinut Gate began. This is the first of five Marjan public bike system locations where bikes will be made fully available at the Marjan Forest Park. It is otherwise the first and largest such system in Croatia and the entire immediate region. Bikes within this public system are available to users throughout the day, and can be rented via a terminal, mobile application (app) or by using a smart card (pametna kartica).

In addition to the City of Split, the public bicycle system is expanding across Central Dalmatia, more precisely spanning the areas of ​​Trogir, Kastela, Solin, Podstrana, Klis, Dugopolje and Dicmo with a total of 41 new terminals and 242 bicycles for public use.

The great value of the praiseworthy "Choose a bicycle/Braj biciklu" project is that a study of the potential of the development of proper and safe bike paths/roads will be prepared, as will a basic document for the development of an integrated system of bicycle paths in the area of ​​the agglomeration itself.

The total value of the entire project stands at an enormous 13,609,435.83 kuna. The project was co-financed by the European Union (EU) from the Cohesion Fund with 10,893,396.68 kuna as part of the ITU Call "Urban Mobility - The Development of the Public Bicycle System in the Split Urban Agglomeration".

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated lifestyle section.

August 3, 2022 - Bikademy – an academy where a good, strong connection is mandatory. The only other requirement is a bicycle. This innovative app explores cyclo tourism and places Croatia on the map of big European cyclo tourist destinations.

Bikademy is a unique Croatian product intended for all those who like cycling to explore new destinations and their cultural and natural heritage. It promotes cities and regions as desirable cyclo tourism destination, rewarding cyclists for their efforts. A bicycle is an ideal means of exploration, being slow enough to take in your surroundings, and fast enough to cover longer distances.

The Bikademy application is completely free for users who, just like in other academies, are called Bikademy Students. Within the application, you can choose from different Bikademy Studies, each representing a particular region, county, or city. Within each Study, there are different Exams, that is, locations and places of cultural or natural significance.

Photo: Bikademy

The main task of a Bikademy Student is to cycle to each Exam in the chosen Study. It is required to take a selfie and check in via the application. After passing all the Exams of the chosen Study, Bikademy Students receive a prize from the Bikademy sponsor, GIANT Croatia.

In just four steps, you too can pass the Bikademy Exam (photos attached).

1 Install the application and register

2 Cycle to the Exam (location)

3 Check in through the application

4 Repeat the previous two steps

Photo: Bikademy

One of the first Bikademy Studies was the Brod-Posavina County with seven Exams: Vrpolje, Gajna, Tvrđava Brod, Petnja, Stara Kapela, Cernik and Tvrđava Stara Gradiška. 

Check out the highlights of the Brod-Posavina Study here.

This Study is intended for more experienced cyclists who want to cover longer distances. The Exams are of similar difficulty for the four other four Slavonian counties. They reveal that Slavonia is not only made up of fields and valleys but also rich cultural heritage, natural resources, superb gastronomy and hospitality, at every turn. Although everyone knows about Slavonia, it is yet to be discovered as a hidden tourist gem perfect for cycling.

In cities like Zagreb, Šibenik, and Berlin, there are less demanding Studies for every traveler who wants to explore the area by bike.

Through its social networks, Bikademy presents its cyclo tourism destinations, and examples from practice, but also continuously rewards its followers. They are preparing new surprises and opportunities soon, so make sure you follow them on social networks.

If you would love to see Bikademy in your area, feel free to contact them, as they are expanding beyond the borders of the Republic of Croatia.

As for your holidays, choose your destination and explore it by bike, get to know the culture and nature of the region, and win prizes. Cycle your exams!

To learn more about some of the people behind the movement, check out TCN's interview with Krešimir Herceg.

For more on lifestyle in Croatia, explore our lifestyle section.

July the 23rd, 2022 - The Choose a Bike!/Biraj Biciklu! project has reached yet another coastal Dalmatian city - Trogir. Some new Trogir bike paths are set to be arranged as part of the project which is rapidly spreading and resulting in much needed environmental change.

As Morski writes, as part of the wider European Union (EU) project "Choose a Bike!", the first system of public bikes in Trogir was presented recently on the Trogir waterfront near the Kamerlengo tower. There are three terminals with ten electric and ten classic bicycles, and work on the first of the Trogir bike paths is now nearing completion.

This praiseworthy project connects the wider Split area by implementing a total of 41 terminals with 242 electric and classic bicycles. In addition to the areas of ​​Trogir, Podstrana, Klis and Dicmo, through this project, bikes will also be made available in nearby Kastela, Solin, Dugopolje, and the existing system in the City of Split itself will also be expanded.

''We can be happy and satisfied that Trogir has become part of this project and that by opening the first three stations of the public bicycle system, we've taken the first step towards a more sustainable way of urban mobility owing to which we'll be less dependent on cars. This is a healthier and cleaner variant of transportation for our residents and our guests, especially when we know how busy Trogir can get during the summer months. Now someone will sit on a bike in Arbanija and get to Kula on two wheels, and those in slightly better shape will be able to cycle Kastela or Split, and then go the same way back. Every car less in the city centre means a lot,'' said Trogir Mayor Ante Bilic.

The points with public bicycles on offer to the public in Trogir are located along the waterfront near the Kamerlengo tower, at the entrance to the city (the Brigi-Lokvice embankment) and in Arbanija (Sv. Kriz).

As far as Trogir is concerned, a significant benefit of this project is the construction of the first of the Trogir bike paths with a pedestrian path running alongside it, which is 450 metres long and is part of the promenade and the Brigi-Lokvice coastal belt, and according to the mayor of Trogir, this path should be opened to traffic in the next month and a half.

The total value of the project stands at 13,609,435.83 kuna, and it was co-financed by the European Union from the Cohesion Fund with 10,893,396.68 kuna, as part of the ITU Call "Urban Mobility - The Development of Public Bicycle Systems in the Urban Agglomeration of Split''.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated lifestyle section.

June the 7th, 2022 - Pula and Nextbike have teamed up to make cycling in the city centre more easy and readily available, both believing that cars have no place in the historic core. This Nextbike Pula move will greatly contribute to lowering our carbon footprint at the local level.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, a contract has been signed between Pula Mayor Filip Zoricic and the Croatian Nextbike director Ante Gustin for the management and maintenance of classic and electric bike stations in the system of the City of Pula, local portal Glas Istre reports.

"It's a project which deals with greater mobility, which, along with thirty bicycles and a hundred scooters, contributes to greater connectivity in Pula. The Nextbike company is a recognisable European brand that has been successfully implemented by cities such as Berlin and Munich, and with this Nextbike Pula collaboration, this city has been included on the European map of Nextbike cities. This is a contribution to our desire to have as few vehicles as possible in the city centre, and now, in addition to the use of public transport, alternatives are being offered through bike and scooter rental services,'' said the Mayor of Pula, Filip Zoricic.

“Cars don’t belong in the city centre,” added Nextbike CEO Leonhard von Harrach.

The Nextbike Pula contract covers the services of maintenance of the entire system and management, as well as services and activities in the operating system and maintenance of software applications for system management. As part of this project in the area of ​​the city of Pula, it will be possible to rent both classic bikes and electric ones at several locations, as well as electric scooters from this year on. Existing locations are being set up with new equipment, and new ones will be opened with the intention of making a better connection and making the system more efficient.

The annual subscription for public bicycles (electric and classic) is 200 kuna and allows unlimited use of bicycles for up to 30 minutes in a single ride throughout the year. The number of individual rides during one day isn't limited. For all other users, the price is 10 kuna for an electric and 5 kuna for a classic bike, for half an hour of use. The price for unlocking and using an electric scooter is a mere 7.50 kuna and is charged at 1.80 kuna per minute of use. It's also possible to get a subscription by which a user gets an unlimited number of 'unlocks' with a one-time payment of 40 kuna. The total value of this praiseworthy Nextbike Pula contract stands at 198 thousand kuna without VAT.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated lifestyle section.