Dravograd hosted the first Bicycle Fair at Koroškem

The event began at 10 a.m. in front of the Špic D hall, where the Mayor of the Municipality Dravograd Anton Preksavec and the Director of RRA Koroška Uroš Rozman addressed the gathering. The pleasant musical atmosphere at the opening was provided by internationally renowned diatonic accordion virtuoso Klemen Rošer .

Throughout the day, visitors could participate in a rich and diverse program that included the exchange and sale of used bicycles, a free bicycle repair shop, preventive and educational workshops, presentations on traffic safety, a roundtable on cross-border cycling, and numerous activities for all generations. The event offered a space for socializing, exchanging experiences, and gaining new knowledge about sustainable mobility and safe participation in traffic.

The youngest also gave a special touch to the event. Friday morning was brightened up by students from the Elementary School of Unknown Hostages Dravograd and the Elementary School of Šentjanž pri Dravogradu . Students from Šentjanž arrived at the venue on bicycles, accompanied by the Police Station Dravograd, AMD–AMZS Dravograd and the Municipal Council for Prevention and Education in Road Traffic. Students from the Dravograd Elementary School prepared an interesting exhibition of drawings on the topic of preparing for the cycling exam.

Every visitor received the attention of the organizers. The Regional Mobility Center Koroška , which operates within the framework of RRA Koroška and set the fair as part of the planned annual activities, prepared practical promotional gifts, and all visitors could participate in the prize draw. At the end of the event, the organizers drew 30 winners who received practical prizes, which were provided by the Development Social Institute Radlje ob Dravi, the Cafe and Confectionery Dravograd, LIO Glazer Radlje ob Dravi, the Municipality Dravograd, the Regional Mobility Center Koroška and RRA Koroška .

The legendary Ponies, which are now manufactured by the company Turna doo from Šoštanj, attracted a lot of attention from visitors. The iconic bicycles, which have marked the youth of many generations, were undoubtedly one of the biggest attractions of the fair. The symbolic opening ride with the Ponies was carried out by the mayor of the municipality Dravograd Anton Preksavec and the director of RRA Koroška Uroš Rozman.

Many partners and participants made a significant contribution to the successful implementation of the event. Among them were the Association for Safe Active Paths (VAP), the Police Station Dravograd , NIJZ OE Ravne na Koroškem, KorX – Nejc Gilčvert , Štrekna Bike Center – Eva Kotnik sp ., Maribor Cycling Network , Mountain Bikers Association Pohorje , Municipality Dravograd , Dravit Dravograd , PGD Dravograd and the Poni project team RRA Koroška . Matija Štumberger provided a presentation of the history of cycling at Koroškem alongside the exhibition posters, and we also witnessed a round table entitled "Challenges of Cross-Border Cycling " and held within the framework of the Interreg project.

Although we would have liked a slightly larger attendance, we are pleased that visitors recognized the quality, relevance and usefulness of the presented content. The event showed that the topics of sustainable mobility, traffic safety and active lifestyle are increasingly important in our local environment. The first edition of the fair laid a solid foundation for the future and offered numerous directions for the further development of the event.

We believe that the Cycling Fair at Koroškem will continue to grow in the coming years, connecting more and more stakeholders and developing into a recognizable regional event that will significantly contribute to the promotion of sustainable mobility and strengthening the recognition of Koroške as a cyclist-friendly region.