Magyar Kerékpárosklub / Hungarian Cyclists Club – Every kilometre on the bike counts!
Under the heading “bike-friendly future”, the Magyar Kerékpárosklub, also known as the Hungarian Cyclists‘ Club (HCC) has been actively engaged on behalf of cycling in urban areas in Hungary since the mid 2000’s with a wide range of campaigns and events. The aim of the Hungarian Cyclists‘ Club is to encourage people to think and motivate them to cycle. One good example: The Bike2Work campaign which started in May again.
The vision of the Hungarian Cyclists‘ Clubis as unambiguous as it is clear: It is easy and quick to go by bike. Cycling is fun and is good for you! Everyone should know that. This actual target of HCC is: Budapest should reach a share of cycling of 10 percent by 2030.
The Hungarian Cyclists‘ Club has promoted over 30 changes to Hungarian legislation. The four most important are:
- introduction and establishment of “bike priority lanes”
- compulsory minimum distance of passing lorries of 1 metre in residential areas and 1.5 metres in every other location
- introduction of protection for unprotected or at-risk traffic participants
- also lifting of compulsory use of a cycle path, where present, if it is worn or could be dangerous
Cycling is not just for young people and fit men. The bike is a great means of transport for everybody! says Áron Halász / HCC. Foto © Marion Luttenberger / Bike Citizens
“The bike is a great means of transport for everyone, male or female, young or old, rich or poor!”
ÁRON HALÁSZ, HCC
The HCC wants to win over Hungarians with positive campaigns relating to cycling. “The positive perception of cycling is often lacking. Cycling is not just for young people and fit men. The bike is a great means of transport for everyone, male or female, young or old, rich or poor”, says Áron Halász from the Hungarian Cyclists‘ Club.
“On your bike!” This phrase is the simple and above all, practical response to many challenges of our time – in Hungary too, of course. Traffic jams, climate change, health problem and many more. The Hungarian Cyclists‘ Club has managed to guarantee state financial support, above all from the Ministry for Innovation and Technology, for the Hungarian Bike2Work campaign (Bringázz a munkába!, or Bam!).
This is a great example of how collaboration between various interest groups can work: Government, the community, individuals and companies can work together for change for a bike-friendly future.
Dress yourself and your bicycle and bike to work with 6.000 other happy commuters! Photo © Daniel von Appen
2018 Bam! was relaunched as an app-based version only and reached 6,000 people in no time, who together covered 600,000 km on their bikes!
Bringázz a munkába! Bike to work!
A survey from last year (2018) shows that there is a great deal of demand for all aspects of cycling in Hungary, and many people are open to the subject “Bike”. At the same time, there is also a great deal of confusion about it. That’s why the HCC devotes lots of energy and work into positive awareness campaigns regarding all aspects of cycling.
On the one hand, these campaigns aim to help create better infrastructure. On the other, it’s a matter of changing the way society sees cycling. With positive awareness campaigns like Bringázza munkába! they’re trying to promote cycling using established tools.
Old mobility habits can only be broken by new mobility habits!
Grab your bike and explore your city © Thomas Gamstätter
With Bringázz a munkába! the Hungarian Cyclists‘s Club is mobilising hundreds of commuters. The long-term aim is to get people out of their cars and onto their bikes. Because: Old mobility habits can only be broken by new mobility habits!
The Bam! campaign started in 2007 with 2,000 people cycling to work. This figure grew steadily over the following years. Despite its great success, the campaign was shelved between 2015 and 2017. Not until 2018 was Bam! relaunched as an app-based version only, and reached 6,000 people in no time, who together covered 600,000 km on their bikes. And it’s going further this year.
Great prizes, such as various bikes, are some of the incentives to take part in the Bam! campaign. All Hungarians who cycle to work for at least half of their working days in May are entitled to take part.
Take part! That’s the call to action
Anyone can take part in the Bam campaign: No matter whether you want to do something for your health, personal fitness, your mood or the environment. First, download the Bike Citizens App and install it on your smartphone. Then you can cycle through the relevant city package free of charge. You’ll find Bam! under “Campaigns” in the menu. Campaign (see guide in the photo). All participating companies appear in the ranking, as well as their teams and individuals who are taking part in the campaign.
Every kilometre counts!
Photo © Bike Citizens
Timing
Spring: 6th to 31st May 2019
Autumn: 9th to 22nd September 2019
Who can take part?
Everyone by bike
Website
www.bam.hu
