You take out your bike, hop on, and the journey begins. Cycling requires no driving licence and no fuel — just a little energy and an open mind.
In our grandparents’ time, cycling was a natural part of everyday life. People of all ages used bicycles to get around, even though there were no cycle paths and far fewer transport options than today. Now, especially in larger towns, many people see cycling as risky, tiring, inconvenient or impractical. Where do you put your bags? How do you carry a child? What if it rains?
Yet cycling offers freedom. It brings the joy of movement, encourages responsible travel, helps protect the environment, and can even bring people closer together.
In Mezőhegyes, the town has made safe cycling a priority. Through a major EU-funded project, new cycle paths were built and awareness-raising programmes were launched. The idea is simple: the more safe and convenient cycling options people have, the more likely they are to use them. And when more people cycle, fewer people drive — making the air cleaner, roads safer, and everyday travel more sustainable.
Because of Mezőhegyes’s layout, many residents cycle daily between the town centre and the surrounding farmsteads. The project focused strongly on this need. New cycling infrastructure was built both within the town and in the surrounding areas, connecting previously separate routes into one continuous network. The development covered the Komlósi Road area, Hársfa Street, the section leading towards Farmstead No. 11, and routes linking Mezőhegyes with neighbouring settlements.
The investment included separate cycle paths, shared pedestrian and cycle paths, a bicycle bridge, a new railway crossing, and a modern roundabout at one of the area’s key junctions. A road safety audit was also carried out to assess how the new system works for both cyclists and drivers.
One of the most engaging parts of the project was its awareness-raising campaign. Schools held competitions and drawing contests, community cycling events were organised, and a publication was created to promote cycling in the area. Children and adults alike took part, discovering the benefits of choosing bicycles more often in everyday life.
Cycling has always been a great way to get around — and in Mezőhegyes, it has now become safer, easier and more attractive than ever.
The development was implemented from EU funding in the project TOP-3.1.1-16-BS2-2020-00002 under the Territorial and Settlement Development Operational Programme.
Find out more about the project in the Project Finder:Details
