Banjaluka Critical Mass (2017- …)
Banja Luka Critical Mass (BKM) is an initiative of citizens created in the summer of 2017 with the aim of informing and educating all traffic participants in order to increase traffic safety, popularize bicycles as a means of transport, and advocate for the improvement of cycling infrastructure and legislation.
The members of the Banja Luka critical mass are the citizens of Banja Luka and its surroundings, guests and tourists, bicycle lovers, whose engagement in the initiative is based on a non-profit and voluntary basis.
Banja Luka Critical Mass is also the name for a monthly event that gathers bicycle lovers and users with the goal of not only enjoying riding together, but also raising awareness about the existence of a large number of cyclists in this city and their needs, but also the needs of every urban environment.
The rides are organized every last Friday of the month, keeping the tradition of this event dating back to 1992, when it was first held in San Francisco.
In a very short time, the critical mass of Banja Luka has become an important actor in the field of advocating for bicycle traffic in Banja Luka. In addition, in a short time, its actors have connected with all major associations and initiatives in the region with which they exchange experiences in the field of advocacy.
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«The attitude of the Banja Luka critical mass is that the bicycle is not only a means of transport that exists in a large corpus of various motor and non-motor vehicles, and that by its only existence deserves a suitable infrastructure – on the contrary, the bicycle, despite the ravages of time and birthday of yore, remains one of the most practical means of transportation. It is the solution of some economic and health problems, the lack of social cohesion and space, traffic jams, but also those in the head.” Dragan Kabić, coordinator of the Banja Luka Critical Mass, Center for Environment |