Banat has the tradition of cultural and economic openness to Budapest and Belgrade. Romania’s neighbors have always been either shopping or commerce places, either relaxation destinations mainly for Romanians in its western part.
Bega River has always been an important transportation point, and those living near it remember the times when the channel was navigable and tied Timisoara to the Serbian towns.Nowadays, Bega River is no longer navigable, but it remained a symbol of road and travelling. At the same time, times changed and bicycle became one of the favorite means of transportation. Although it is not deemed an elegantmeans of travel, a growing number of Romanians has been using the two-wheel vehicle.
For encouraging bicycle riding, the authorities made and arranged attractive tracks. Recently, near Romania’s western border bicycle lovers could enjoy a track linking Romania to Serbia. Built on the banks Bega River, the track is 37-kilometer long and was completed in 2015. It was a project made by Banat River Basin Administration, with the help of EU funds.
Bicyclers curious to engage in a bicycle trips to the neighboring country can follow the track on the next path:Timisoara – Utvin – Sanmihaiu Roman – Uivar – Otelec – Serbian border. In the future, the track will reach Zrenjanin tow and it was built with the aim to reach cross border collaboration and develop bicycle tourism in that area. At the same time, the project of building the track preserves the Bega River symbol as focal point of traveling and communication between the two countries, Romania and Serbia.
References and photographs:
http://www.ratt.ro/forum/index.php?showtopic=1400
pedaleaza.ro/pist-de-cicloturism-de-la-timioara-pan-la-grania-cu-serbia/
E.P.
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