Croatia Pedals Forward: National Cycling Conference in Poreč Highlights Sustainable Mobility

The fourth National Cycling Conference was held in Poreč from 15 to 17 October 2025, organized by the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure. The event aimed to promote the development of cycling transport and infrastructure in Croatia through cooperation among relevant institutions and experts in the fields of transport, tourism, health, and urban planning. The overall objective of the conference was to create a platform for sharing experiences and knowledge and to foster collaboration among stakeholders involved in the planning, development, and promotion of cycling mobility.

The opening presentation on the first day was delivered by Ivica Jujnović from the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, who also serves as the national coordinator for the development of cycling transport. His presentation, titled Perspective of the Development of Cycling Transport in Croatia, outlined the results achieved so far under the first Croatian National Cycling Plan and introduced the Active2Public Transport project—its goals, completed activities, and those still to come.

On the second day, alongside numerous lectures, two round tables were held on the topics of Sustainable Mobility and Tourism—in which Mr. Jujnović also participated—and Maritime Passenger Transport, focusing on the synergy between cycling and public transport. This was a key theme explored through the EU-funded projects A2PT (Active2Public Transport) and CYROS (Cycling for Resilient Cities), both of which promote the integration of cycling into urban mobility and contribute to building more sustainable and environmentally friendly cities.

The discussions brought together representatives of ministries, local authorities, providers of public passenger transport by rail and sea, cycling associations, consultants, and travel agencies. Participants exchanged experiences, noting, for instance, that the demand for maritime passenger transport allowing bicycle carriage has been steadily increasing—particularly in coastal regions where cycle tourism plays an increasingly important role. The need for further investment in cycling infrastructure and for stronger integration of cycling with maritime and rail transport systems was emphasized, as these improvements would enhance accessibility, safety, and sustainability.