The development of the bike track from the Salonta - Békéscsaba cross border area

The coverage of cross-border bicycle infrastructure in the eligible area shows dynamic progress, especially in Hungary, where many localities are linked through bike tracks, which improves the labour force mobility and the access of tourism destinations. Bikes, as an alternative means of transport either for daily commuting to workplace, access to services or leisure, are fequently used by the population of the Salonta-Békéscsaba area. However, the bicycle network needs to be extended and further developed. Since some dwellers from smaller rural localities (Mădăras) need to commute to bigger ones (such as Salonta, Sarkad or even Békéscsaba) on a daily basis for work or access to services, the bike track should be extended towards Mădăras and it should be completed with other sections in Sarkad and Salonta, in order to reduce access obstacles (lack of safe, dedicated infrastructure) and stimulate other people to use this environmentally-friendly way of transport more frequently. The accessibility of the tourist destinations, cultural and natural values of the region by bicycle needs constant development. The active tourism offers of the border regions are improving: health centres, spas, visitor centres, tourist and study paths etc. have been created. The sustainable maintenance of these developments and their accessibility must be taken into account: besides the fact that it is an environmentally-friendly way of transport, bike tracks are needed to ensure safe travelling for families and tourists to different tourist attractions, developing tourist program packages, races, contests etc.​​The Salonta-Békéscsaba area faces similar challenges in what the available ways of transport are concerned. The project approaches the insufficient lack of safe, dedicated infrastructure for border crossing and the reduction of gas emissions. An increase in the ratio of people to road vehicles crossing the border in the Salonta-Békéscsaba area can be reached if an increased proportion of passengers use bicycles for border crossing, which are sustainable forms of transport, non-polluting and non-disturbing (noise), compared to cars, motorbikes and other vehicles.The project proposes the further development of the existing cross-border bicycle road between Salonta and Békéscsaba, in order to increase regional mobility of residents and tourists and to create a safe way to cross the border by bicycle for dwellers of rural areas such as Mădăras village. Local mobility by bike will also be improved in the other partner localities (Sarkad, Salonta), by continuing the works on the existing bicycle road that crosses them. The new element introduced is the extension of the existing bike track to Mădăras, offering the opportunity to the dwellers of this rural settlement to commute to Salonta and across the border using a safe, environmentally-friendly means of transport. The bike network in Romania is very little developed, especially in rural areas. Also, the partners intend to continue investments in the cross-border bike track by further expanding it within their settlements and to other settlements as well, in order to create better environmentally-friendly connections on the long term.This project is aimed at increasing in the proportion of passengers using sustainable forms of cross-border transport in the Salonta - Békéscsaba area by 1% in 30 months, by extending and completing the existing cross-border bicycle track. The outputs contribute to the specific objective "Developing and improving environmentally-friendly transport infrastructure, by building 8.778 km of bicycle track, in order to promote sustainable regional and local mobility in the Salonta - Békéscsaba area in 30 months", as the interventions seek to extend the Salonta - Békéscsaba existing bicycle track in Sarkad, Salonta and Mădăras. It also links to programme output indicators, as 8.778 km of bicycle track will be newly built in total, 2.7 km in Sarkad, 0.745 km in Salonta and 5.326 km in Mădăras, thus improving the possibility of more people to cross the border using environmentally-friendly means of transport such as bike, to the detriment of motorized road vehicles. A more developed bike road should be a stimulent for more people to take up biking for health, transport to work/education/other services and tourism.The project has trans-border character from the very beginning as the idea appeared during the implementation of the partners’ former project, HURO/0802/146_AF, in which an almost 30 km long cross-border bicycle track was built between Salonta and Békéscsaba, with the cooperation of Salonta, Sarkad and Békéscsaba and others. Acting solely at national, regional or local level is not sufficient in most cases to limit the sources and expansion of pollution such as GHG emissions, or to ensure a sustainable and equitable development of the region. Cross-border cooperation in developing the bicycle infrastructure is necessary for connecting localities and minimizing pollution effects on the local population of the area. Efficiently addressing such issues and ultimately to improve a safer local and cross-border mobility of residents and tourists of the Salonta-Békéscsaba area, close cooperation of the 3 partners is needed, beyond the limitations that the Romanian-Hungarian border entails. This cooperation has strategical impact in the Programme region for it is adapted to meeting the needs of the local population from the Salonta-Békéscsaba area, as well as tourists, and to benefit the environment in a sustainable way. On the long term, joint promotion will contribute to increasing the number of visitors and thus contribute indirectly to the strengthening of the Salonta – Békéscsaba area’s economy, by ensuring access to more people across the border. Also, a healthier lifestyle will be widespread in the target region. The target population - 32363 people from Sarkad, Salonta, Mădăras - will benefit from the investments, they can use for daily commute for work or leisure and a better environment, through the decrease the level of pollution (GHG emissions). These lead to better living conditions, an improvement in the quality of life of the residents of the selected localities: better health and life style; increased access; safer travel; improved touristic attractiveness of their localities etc. Tourists in the area are also envisaged.Thus, the project contributes to IP7/c, its objectives, results and outcomes.

The purpose of the project was to increase regional mobility and to create a safer way to cross the border by bicycle for the inhabitants of rural areas and tourists. Bicycle mobility is being improved in Sarkad and Salonta, by continuing the works on the existing bicycle road that crosses them. The new element introduced is the extension of the existing cross-border bike track to Mădăras, offering the opportunity for the inhabitants of this rural settlement to commute to Salonta and across the border using a safe, environmentally-friendly means of transport and to connect to the existing bike network. The main activities implemented within the project: preparation of technical plans for the bicycle tracks to be developed in Sarkad, Mădăras and Salonta; extension of the existing cross-border bicycle road in Sarkad (HU), with a total of 3.34 km of newly built bicycle road; extension of existing cross-border bicycle road in Mădăras, with 5,326 km (RO); extension of existing cross-border bicycle road in Salonta with 0,745km. On July 31, 2022, the project was successfully finalized. All activities provided in the project were completed (100%). The Programme Output Indicator is „7/c 2 Total length of newly built bicycle roads”. Project ROHU – 140 contributes to this indicator by 9.42 km of newly built bicycle road, by the end of the project implementation period. Main results: The project’s main results are: - the extension of the existing bicycle routes between Salonta - Békéscsaba with a total of 9.42 km; - 1 bicycle tour organized at the inauguration of the bike path for 50people; - increased awareness regarding the importance of low carbon, low noise – forms of cross-border transport. Social media: Facebook WeBike

Increase in the ratio of people to road vehicles crossing the border in the Salonta-Sakad area will be reached due to the fact that, by the end of the project, an increased proportion of passengers (min.50) from the Salonta-Békéscsaba area will use bicycle for border crossing. The existing bike track will be extended towards Mădăras, connecting more localities and communities. Several promotional activities will be taking place in all localities in order to establish a cycling culture and stimulate more and more people to take up biking, the project expects to create a demand for a new, healthy cycling lifestyle. The newly build bicycle road will create a safe way to cross the border by bicycle. More people will select this form for crossing the border for daily commuting or tourism, as they will also perceive the safety provided by the dedicated infrastructure. The population of the Salonta-Békéscsaba area and tourists that cross the border for various interests (daily commuting, work, leisure) on bike will increase with an estimate of 1%. Thereby, it contributes to the desired increase in the programme result indicator. The project contributes to the Key implementation step:1 cross-border border bicycle road will be benefiting from the project by 2018, as the first steps to construct 8.78 km of newly built bicycle road to extend the existing bicycle road will be taken throughout the project.