Final report on the participation in the project “Borderlands by Bike“
Introduction to the project
The project “Border by Bike” is a cross-border initiative aimed at promoting cycling in the Slovak-Polish border area. The aim of the project is to improve the connection between the people of Slovakia and Poland and to create four new cycle shelters on existing cycle routes. These cycling shelters will serve as resting places and provide shelter for cyclists on their journeys.
The project is implemented in cooperation between the municipalities of Čierne and Korňa in Slovakia and the municipalities of Goleszów and Ujsoły in Poland. Marketing activities and project linkage are carried out through the Žilina Tourist Board, which is the main partner of the project.This project will contribute to the development of sustainable tourism and strengthen cultural cooperation between the two countries.
Activities implemented within the framework of the project participation
- Questionnaire survey: carried out from 27 November to 15 December 2024 through the Google Forms platform. The aim was to obtain opinions and comments on the project from the wider public, including stakeholders from the target groups. 67 respondents participated (47 from the Slovak and 20 from the Polish side).
- Online public hearings: two online public hearings were organised – one on the Slovak and one on the Polish side.
- Research walks: three walks (two in Slovakia and one in Poland) aimed at analysing the current state of cycling infrastructure and the needs of local communities.
- Project board meetings: two project board meetings were held, before and after the questionnaire survey, focusing on project coordination and evaluation of the data collected.
Informing stakeholders:
- Websites of the EGTC Tritia, the municipalities of Ujsoły, Goleszów, Čierne, Korňa
- Social networks
- Personal invitation and radio in the villages
Note: During the preparation of the project, the main partner changed from EZÚS TRITIA to the Žilina Tourist Region.
Results from online public hearings
After the presentation of the project, those present were informed about the interim results from the questionnaire survey and their suggestions/ comments/ questions. The names of the cycle shelters were discussed, plans and ideas of the stakeholders and project partners were shared. No conclusions were formulated from the meeting.
Results of the research walks
Participants from stakeholder groups and project partners walked the area of Korňa, Čierne and Ujsoły municipalities and all present agreed that the proposed parcel numbers seem to be the most appropriate. In Goleszów, this selection had been made earlier as part of another upcoming project, and after a stakeholder conference by telephone, all agreed that there was no need to investigate the site and confirmed the suitability of the Goleszów site for a cycle shelter.
Results of the questionnaire survey
The total number of participants was 67 respondents. The questionnaire included several key questions relating to suggestions for the name of the shelters, the appearance of the shelters and their facilities. The most important results include:
- The name of the bike shelters:
o Black: 17 different suggestions.
o Goleszów: 19 suggestions, of which the name “Goleszów” was suggested 6 times.
o Korňa: 34 proposals, of which 8 times the name “Cycloútulňa pod Beskydom” was proposed.
o Ujsoły: 14 different proposals. - Appearance of the bicycle shelter:
o Overall, 68.7% of respondents preferred a traditional look, 31.3% a modern look.
o In Ujsoły and Goleszów, the difference in preferences was smaller, where 40% preferred a traditional look, 60% a modern one.
o In Čierny and Korni, 81% of respondents preferred the traditional look. - Cyclopoints (stand with tools and pump):
o 98.5% of respondents agreed that bike racks should contain basic bike repair tools, including a pump. - Lockability of the bike shed:
o 62.7% of respondents preferred bike lockers to be freely accessible,
35.8% would prefer lockable. - Basic facilities of a cycle shelter:
Respondents most frequently mentioned:
- Sleeping accommodation: bed, raised board
- Basic furniture: table, chairs, shelf
- Functional equipment: bike rack, bike tools, e-bike charger
- other: toilet, window, place for fireplace, solar panels
- Information for cyclists: map, contacts, water, shop or catering facilities
6. Suggested locations for bike shelters
- Korňa: plot No 3714/14
- Čierne: parcel No 6744/48
- Goleszów – Leszna Górna: parcel No 1226/2
- Ujsoły – Glinka Geopark
Agreement with the proposed sites: 95.4% of respondents answered ‘Yes’.
Stakeholders
The project is intended for a wide range of participants, especially cyclists and tourists using cycle paths in the Slovak-Polish border area. Stakeholders include:
- Residents of Goleszów, Ujsoły, Korňa, Čierne, Skalité
- Senior Citizens Club Goleszów, ZO Jednoty Důchodců Čierne
- Organisations: PTTK Gminne koło No. 19 “ŚLIMOKI”, Cycling Association Žilina, Turčianska Bicycle Group JUS, Tourist Club AHA Čierne
- Žilina self-governing region
- EUWT TRITIA
- MORENO and the Centre for Culture, Sport and Recreation Ujsoły
Stakeholders’ opinions and suggestions
- “The shelter should be clearly marked and visible from a distance.”
- “I am very pleased with this initiative, I suggest to improve the Korňa Bay-Kelčov cycle route, which is very difficult to cross.”
- “Cyclists will find the shelter very useful as a place to rest and repair their bikes.”
- “I propose to improve the Korňa Sobčakovci-Konecna route.”
- “Keys should be accessible all year round with registration to prevent vandalism.”
Based on the results of the online public hearings, questionnaire survey, research walks and communication with stakeholders, the project team decided that:
- the names of the cycle shelters will be discussed further in light of respondents’ suggestions
- a modern look will be chosen for the Polish cycle shelters
- for the Slovak cycle shelters, a traditional look will be chosen
- the bicycle shelters will contain basic bicycle repair tools, including a pump
- bike sheds shall be available without locks
- bike sheds will contain basic equipment – table, benches, basket, phone charger, electric bike charging, bike racks
- information on water, shops, recreational facilities, important telephone numbers and contacts for the wardens will be available
- large maps will be placed
- cycle shelters will be located as proposed
In addition, it was decided that it was not possible to comply with the request.:
- For safety reasons, the use of the fire pit will not be allowed
- Cyclists will not be able to sleep in the cycle shelters, they will not be equipped with beds – not feasible due to inability to ensure compliance with hygiene regulations and concerns over vandalism and disturbance of the night-time peace
- Due to the location, it is not always possible to provide water and sanitary facilities in the vicinity of the cycle shelters
It is not yet possible to accommodate the requirements:
- modification of the route Korňa Sobčakovci_Konečná
- modification of the Korňa Zátoka-Kelčov route (difficult passability)
The next project board meeting will deal with:
- submission of applications
- the names of the cycle shelters
- the connecting element of the cycle shelters
- joint activities
If you have any questions/comments/suggestions, please contact us at:
Main Coordinator (Žilina Tourist Region): Gabriela Šimčíková, gabriela.simcikova@zask.sk
Representative (Municipality of Čierne): Monika Benková, monika.benkova@cierne.dcom.sk
Representative (Municipality of Goleszów): Joanna Macura, joanna.macura@goleszow.pl
Representative (Municipality of Korňa): Marianna Bebčáková, starostka@korna.sk
Representative (Municipality of Ujsoły): Julia Grygny, j.grygny@ujsoly.com.pl
Conclusion
The project “Cycling along the border” will contribute to the development of cycling tourism in the border area and promote cultural cooperation between Slovakia and Poland. The creation of cycling shelters will provide cyclists with the necessary facilities and contribute to safer and more comfortable roads in the region. The results of the questionnaire survey showed that both residents and visitors are interested in modern, well-equipped bicycle shelters, which will be freely accessible and will provide the necessary facilities for resting and repairing bicycles. This project will not only promote cycling tourism but also contribute to the sustainable development of tourism infrastructure in the border areas.
