The village in Romania where everyone rides bicycles. At school, the bike racks have become insufficient
A village in the Arad county stands out for its large number of cyclists who live there.
Anywhere you look, you see someone riding a bike because cycling has become the preferred mode of transportation for people.
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The most striking image is in front of the local school, where over 150 bikes gather every morning. According to the latest census, Semlac, a locality in Arad, has just over 3,700 inhabitants.
It's past 7 in the morning, and children of various ages start to appear on bikes from all corners of the village. The sun doesn't warm them enough, so some wear thick clothes and hats.
Before 8 o'clock, the rack in front of the middle school is full. There are over 150 bikes, which is at least half of the total number of students in the school.
Boy: "We live far away. Instead of walking and having to leave very early, it's better to ride our bikes because we can't go by car since we don't have anyone to drive us".
Boy: "My legs hurt when I walk, it's better to go by bike".
The school has designated a person responsible for the student racks to prevent overcrowding.
Andrei Iosif, school employee: "If they're lined up, they all fit".
Daniela Vădășan, school principal: "The racks have become insufficient. We'll order a few more, and in this way, we encourage them to do some sport".
Semlac has nearly 3 kilometers of bike lanes, built near the sidewalks.
Letiția Stoian, mayor: "With the village being almost 3 kilometers long, they move much more easily and safely".
Moreover, cycling seems to be the preferred mode of transportation in other localities in Arad as well. For example, in the village of Păuliş, a track of over 4 kilometers is being built, which will connect with the village of Sâmbăteni. Even the locals requested this.
Ioan Turcin, mayor of Păuliș: "This bike lane encourages cycling and less driving".
In the future, a huge bike lane, over 1,700 kilometers long, could connect four counties in the western part of the country, but the project is only at the bidding stage for the feasibility study.
