DRAFT ROUTE PROPOSAL! dates, places and activities can still change a bit. Big cities are easiest to start joining biketour: Belgrade, Skopje, Ohrid (Struga), Durres (as we are there a few days and only one afternoon in Tirana), Podgorica, Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Zagreb. Of course you can be adventurous and join us from other places - but please let us know in advance.
Map to "Gavez" restaurant/cafe at Ada Ciganlija (Belgrade) where Biketour 2001 and 2005 already has been)The office of Serbian Green youth, Dr. Dragoslava Popovica 22BT Welcome meeting Be aware: we stay in a place which charges € 5 per night, excluding food etc. Belgrade is expensive. hostel became: hostel City Center. Most of the time we are in the club house of Serbian Green Youth, address: Dr. Dragoslava Popovica 22 (old Beograd). See map.
Start at 10:00 PM from Belgrade train station on 6.07.09. and arrive on 07.07.09. at Skopje around 6:50 AM. This is a direct train with 2nd class only seated accommodation, Sleeping-car and Couchettes. Price per person approx € 20,- (not yet clear about bikes)
Nb. we initially planned to start BT in Skopje. But as we thought that many participants will come over Belgrade, we planned to facilitate the transport BG-Skopje, by trying to get a train together. This we then also can present as campaign to promote bike transport per train. After that (...) we also thought to add an action in Belgrade on the lack of integrated transport policy. However, our initial plan was just to facilitate the transport to Skopje.
Conclusion: we don't have money for this train trip. If you are coming from the south of Serbia, maybe its smarter to head/stay in Skopje and join the biketour there, instead of going to Belgrade, and immediately take the train back to Skopje. But of course you are welcome in Belgrade, we love to have you, just then be ready for some expenses for yourself.
after you arrive in Skopje and have breakfast on the train station as you planned, you may leave your bags in the youth hostel. You can park the bikes too, no problem. Next to the hostel there is restaurant "Domini", we are going to have meeting there at 9am
Bike parade in Bitola center towards the new Info and Educations Centre on sustainability "Volvox" which offers projects on renewable energies (http://www.biosfera.org.mk/)
Sleeping place t.b.d.
14 July
Ride to & swim in Prespa Lake (Oteševo or further)
Sleeping place t.b.d.
15 July Struga (Vevcani)
Ride to Struga.
sleep over at Krste Jon scouts in Struga or etno village Vevcani
cycle 23 km Shkoder- Vladimir + 19km Vladimir-Ostros (difficult climb, 17 km uphill), then 13km gradually down following Skader Lake till Murići
camp in Murići at Skadar Lake (to be confirmed)
29th of July
cycle 39 km Murići - Rijeka Crnojevica
camp with FORUM-MNE int. camp/volunteers (to be confirmed)
30th of July
action in morning? (to be confirmed)
cycle in afternoon 30 km to Podgorica
introduction of country/events/bike action next day
cycle to camp place, 5 km above city
31st of July
joined action in Podgorica with Green Home on air quality and transport in the city
(we can help prepare in morning)
camp 5 km above city
01st of August
cycle to Nikšić
Camp at Lake Krupac, 4 km from city center. Drinking water and toilets at nearby restaurant “Kod Vuka” (Cyrillic “Код Вука”).
02nd of August
activity in Nikšić is canceled, as local NGO gave up the idea. After Zabljak there are two options for the route, with different numbers of days for cycling. So, option is also to stay one more day in Nikšić, coz next route to Šavnik is very demanding (50 km with 30 km uphill of 950 m altitude difference)
03rd-4t (and maybe 5th) of August
cycle towards Žabljak (details to be confirmed)
05th (or 6th) of August
cycle from (near) Žabljak clockwise on the south part of ringway around National Park Durmitor, probably 34km downhill until Trsa, to turn north and climb over the mountains to Tara river (to be confirmed)
camp at Tara river close to Ščepan Polje, near border with Bosnia (to be confirmed)
07th of August
cycle to Foca (Bosnia and Herzegovina, over border crossing at Scepan Polje)
BiH
As you can see, it's still under development, a lot still to be confirmed, we keep you updated
(6th) or 7th of August
cycle Foča/Srbnije - Trnovo
camp near Trnovo
(7th) or 8th of August
cycle to Sarajevo
(* (8th) or 9th: resting day in Sarajevo?)
(9th) or 10th August)
event Sarajevo (to be confirmed)
10th and 11th of August)
2 days cycling to Zenica (either 80km via Visoko, or 92km via Kiseljak)
(12th of August)
event with Eko Forum against pollution and lack of taking responsibility of iron smelter Arcellor Mittal
cycle toward Travnik and bit beyond (direction of Banja Luka)
(13th of August)
cycle to Krupa na Vrbasu - in 1 or 2 days? by canyon (beautiful but more trafic, or smaller -much shorter- road?)
camp at Krupa na Vrbasu
14th or 15th of August
Resting day at Krupa na Vrbasu
possibility to visit Jahice (long daytrip) or Kotor Varos?
15th or 16th of August (to be confirmed)
cycle 22km to Banja LUka. spend time there during the day
filmscreenining in evening in Banja Luka,
cycle back to Krupa? to be confirmed
(16th) or 17th of August
cycle to Omarska (from Krupa 63km, though probably much more as highway from BL is impossible for bikes -traffic and no space on road). In Omarska mines is the ore production for the iron factory in Zenica causing health problems for the whole town
meeting with appealing civil protest group Eko-Omarska?
cycle to Prijedor (25km), sleep over nearby (to be confirmed)
(17th) or 18th or 19th of August??
Event in Prijedor where is the head quarter of Arcellor Mittal company
cycle to 36km towards Hrvatska Dubica, Croatian border
Camping in Lonjsko polje. This one of Europe’s original wetland (swamp) areas, preserved and protected as nature park with incredible diversity of living creatures.
21 August
Ride to Sisak
Sleeping in the sport center, showers included. Place is called “Zibel kupaliste”.
Some minor bike shops in Sisak.
22 August
Action in Sisak with NGO “Sisačka eko-akcija” regarding air pollution from oil refinery
Sleeping in a sport center.
23 August
Ride to Vukomeric. Probably a chance for a swim in the river. Minor uphills, around 65km.
24 August
Workshops in Vukomeric
This place is an education center on DIY sustainability and permaculture. No showers, however. ☺
25 August
Ride to Zagreb, 30km.
Address where we sleep: Medika factory, Pierotti street 11.
Action in Zagreb with NGO “Green Action” Action yet to be decided, but it’s always fun with GA.
Sleeping in the squat. No showers, possible punk band gig in the evening. ☺ Plenty of bikeshops.
26 August
Ride to Bjelovar, longest strech in Croatian part, some 80km but very flat.
Chance to take a swim on a way.
Sleeping in the sport center in Bjelovar, showers included. Address is Tudjmanova poljana 4.
27 August
Action is Bjelovar with NGO “Priroda I društvo” regarding Bjelovar’s transport policy, a critical mass ride.
Ride to Ferdinanovac (near Drava river, village Gabajeva Greda) mostly flat, 40km.
Sightseeing of Drava. Drava is the last natural river basin in Europe. There is a good chance it will be destroyed by electric power company.
Sleeping next to the water, count on swimming and moskitos.
28 August
Arrival to Koprivnica. Bike-friendly town, awarded for Mobility week 2006.
Final arrival at MuM camp near Koprivnica – END OF BIKETOUR 2009
Optional
31 August
Action in Veliki Pazut, together with other people at MuM camp
See it on google map (1st version) to satisfy the geek in yourself.
