Local services
As in previous years, Debrecen excelled this year when it came to awarding cyclist-friendly awards.
Speaking at the award ceremony, Deputy State Secretary for Transport Strategy at the Ministry of Construction and Transport (abbreviated in Hungarian as ÉKM), Loránd Bói said that transport is a collaboration between people. It’s about people going to work and taking their children to school, kindergarten or for leisure activities. This must be kept in mind when the rules governing transport are being drawn up.
Loránd Bói pointed out that ÉKM, together with the Hungarian Institute of Transport Science and Logistics, has been preparing the draft of the new Highway Code in the past year, in very broad cooperation with professional stakeholders and civil society organisations.
According to the Deputy State Secretary, the new Highway Code will bring changes in the structure, language and concepts, eliminating the mistakes of the old legislation and making traffic rules simpler and easier to understand. He explained that, once the new Highway Code is adopted, the principle of protecting the weaker road user against the stronger will become a basic principle.
They intend to prioritise the protection of pedestrians and cyclists in the future. As an example, he mentioned that they plan to introduce a cycle lane and a pedestrian and cycling zone. The measures are aimed at improving the safety of pedestrians and cyclists in the new Highway Code.
At the same time, Loránd Bói said that “rules alone are powerless if there are no municipalities or workplaces to encourage and promote, for example, cycling”.
According to the Hungarian Institute of Transport Science and Logistics which is responsible for the implementation of the competition, the Ministry of Transport launched the Cycling Friendly Municipality and Cycling Friendly Workplace competition in 2006, which was launched for the 16th time in 2024 for municipalities, small, medium-sized and multinational companies and public institutions.
Among other things, the award recognises measures taken by municipalities and employers to promote and improve conditions for cycling.
It was announced that 59 entries were received for the 2024 competition, of which 26 municipalities and 33 workplaces applied for the “Cycling Friendly” award.
Ajka, Budakalász, Kazincbarcika, Kiskunhalas, Lenti, Sándorfalva, Szarvas, Debrecen, and the III, X and XIII districts of the capital were awarded the title of “Cycling Friendly Municipality“.
EDC Debrecen Nonprofit Ltd. was awarded the title of Cyclist Friendly Workplace.
Also Koliken Ltd. and Poppe + Potthoff Hungária Ltd. and among public institutions BKK Budapest Transport Centre PLC, the Office of the Mayor of Budapest, Member Kindergarten of Pestszentimre, Zöld Liget Kindergarten, Eötvös József College, the Mayor’s Office of Kőbánya, the University of Pécs, the University of Sopron, the Arboretum of Szarvas and Tourinform Vásárosnamény.
It was announced at the event that the winners will be able to use the Cyclist Friendly label, logo and sign in their communication materials for one year. The competition will be launched again this year.
Source and photo credit:dehir.hu
