Organized by the Sunce, ahead of World Car-Free Day, the 15th Split bike tour took place on temporarily closed roads. More than 300 cyclists safely rode through the city, while many other interested visitors gathered for the closing celebration in Đardin.
– I am proud of our 15th Split Bike Ride, of everyone involved in its organization, as well as our partners and donors. Thank you all, and we hope that events like this will contribute to better cycling infrastructure in the City of Split. In addition, greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles are harmful to our health and the environment, so cycling is always a better option! – said Tihana Arapović, organizer of the Split bike tour from Sunce.
Cycling is for everyone
The cyclists pedaled for a healthier Split and showed how we can connect the city together. After completing the 15-kilometre cycling route through Split, which this year started in Žnjan and ended in Đardin, everyone interested could share their impressions of the ride and take part in Sunce’s traditional games and activities.
– I didn’t get tired. I could even ride it one more time. – said eleven-year-old Jakov to program host Pinija Poljaković, who, surprisingly, was not among the youngest participants. A family from Benkovac arrived in Đardin to participate in bike tour with a little girl who was only 11 months old!
– There were no obstacles for any age group because this was an active ride, not a competition. – Arapović emphasized.
The road closures enabled all cyclists to ride safely.
– This is the first time I have been able to ride so comfortably on Split’s roads, and I have to admit that it felt great. I noticed that some car drivers were angry about the road closures, but they are angry every day while sitting in traffic jams. Good cycling infrastructure, which we have been advocating for through the organization of the Bike Ride for years, would ease traffic congestion on Split’s roads and ultimately solve that frustration. – explained Sunce Executive Director Gabrijela Medunić-Orlić.
Plastic-free – it is possible!
At the finish line, Sunce employees and volunteers made sure that nothing was missing. Cyclists in Đardin were welcomed with free refreshments, coffee, snacks, cakes, fruit and sandwiches. Importantly, everything was served without single-use plastic!
Using a deposit-return system, all visitors used Sunce’s reusable cups. This reduced the amount of waste that would otherwise have been generated through the use of single-use items.
– Sunce has organized exclusively plastic-free events since its beginnings because this is how we protect the environment. In addition, through our example, we want to show other event organizers in Split and the surrounding area that such events are entirely possible. We are also talking about the need to reduce single-use plastic and waste as part of our current Together Without Plastic campaign. – said Tea Kuzmičić-Rosandić, Head of the Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development Department at Sunce.
There was no shortage of refreshments and interesting activities at the colorful Garnier corner either. Everyone could find something for themselves, and all products were created according to a zero-waste concept.
– Visitors have the opportunity to try out our fun games. For example, when you spin the “wheel of fortune,” prizes await you. In addition to tote bags and hair and skincare products, you can win a Garnier notebook whose cover contains seeds. This is especially useful for children, so they can learn about planting and nature from an early age. – said Ivana Barišić from Garnier.
BMX spectacle in Đardin
Perhaps the most excitement and applause, both from participants and passers-by, was generated by the BMX show performed by Trotul Cycling Club. Various stunts and acrobatics were a real sensation for everyone present.
– There are no age limits when it comes to BMX; both young and old can become interested in it. For example, our club has a three-year-old participant! The most important thing is to have the will to try. If you didn’t know, BMX has been an Olympic sport since 2020. – said coach Andrija Kuvačić.
Fun games and great prizes
Trotul also organized a BMX workshop for interested children, while others took part in a traditional cycling jousting game (biciklistička alka). The competition among the three finalists was intense, but the main prize was ultimately won by Saša Simović. The winner received a zip-line experience in Omiš for two, a Bio&Bio healthy food package, and glasses and two keychains from Maritimo Recycling Dubrovnik.
The runner-up, Nikola Tudor, won a 60-minute sports massage at Beauty Center Touch, two cinema tickets from Ekran Split, as well as glasses and two Maritimo keychains.
Third place went to Duje Simović, who received a one-month membership at Fitness Center Joker, a Bio&Bio healthy food package, glasses and two Maritimo keychains.
Various prizes were also awarded during Sunce’s traditional raffle, with all donations going to the City of Omiš to support its recovery from the fires.
– We successfully raised almost €500, and we would like to thank everyone who took part in the raffle and helped our neighboring city. – said Arapović.
The grand prize in the raffle was won by Ivona Dučić.
– I borrowed a bicycle for this event, and now I have won a new one, which I will be very happy to ride. I received a bell at the starting line, and now it will be a great accessory for my new bike. – Ivona told us after taking home a brand-new bicycle from Extreme Shop.
The raffle attracted great interest among participants, and in addition to the grand prize, other winners received interesting gift packages donated by our partners.
The winners of the third and second-tier prizes received annual Nextbike subscriptions, cinema tickets from Ekran, Bio&Bio healthy food packages, tickets to the Museum of Illusions and educational games from the museum, as well as a meal for two at Makarun restaurant. There were also one-month memberships at Joker Gym, vouchers for delicious sandwiches at Rizzo, clay-shaping workshops at Uručak, Art Bottega Wine & Paint workshops, haircuts and blow-dries at Like salon, and massages at Beauty Center Touch.
Sunce is here for you!
Anyone who noticed an environmental problem could report it in person in Đardin that Sunday at the Green Phone booth. The Green Phone is a free service for citizens who want to report an environmental or nature protection issue but do not know whom to contact.
– Several foreigners who happened to be in Đardin approached me and were very interested when I told them what Sunce does. They said that the Green Phone sounded like a great way to tackle environmental problems and even wondered whether anything similar existed in their own countries. – said Eva Šore, a lawyer at Sunce.
There was another, perhaps slightly less serious but equally important booth in Đardin – the STEM booth!
As part of the STEM public event organized by Sunce within the Set Sail into STEM Waters – A Map to 2030 project, the youngest visitors explored water, the sea and their living world through experiments and play, as well as learning about the threats they face.
– With the children, we explored how pollution reaches water, what happens when pollutants enter aquatic ecosystems, and how human activities change seas and rivers. And most importantly, we explored whether we can find solutions to these environmental problems. The children had plenty of ideas! – said Jelena Grozdanić, an educator at Sunce.
Working together for a sustainable future for Split!
As darkness began to fall, it was around seven o’clock and time for the gathering in Đardin to come to an end.
– The 15th Split Bike Ride would not have been this successful without the support of our sponsors, partners and donors. The City of Split, Split Tourist Board, Youth Council of Split-Dalmatia County, Split-Dalmatia County, Split Parking, Promet Split and Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board co-financed the organization of the event. We would like to extend special thanks to V. Gimnazija “Vladimir Nazor” Split, especially their teacher Josip Kosović, as well as Natural Science School Split and teacher Matilda Jelaska, whose students enriched the organization of the Bike Ride through their enthusiasm and volunteer engagement. Our thanks also go to the Spinut Sea Scouts, local volunteers and members of CrossFit XV. – concluded Arapović.
With yet another Split Bike Ride, Sunce has shown that Split can choose sustainable mobility and that using alternative forms of transportation, such as bicycles, is essential for protecting our environment. Cycling is good for our health, the environment and nature.
– Thank you all. It is wonderful to see that so many of us have gathered, and we are already looking forward to the 16th Split Bike Ride. – Arapović said as the gathering in Đardin came to an end.
