The first BalatonBike365 Port, our cycling center in Balatonfüred, has opened
On September 10, 2022, we opened the first BalatonBike365 Port, our northern cycling center in Balatonfüred, which offers European-level services to tourists who want to explore the Balaton highlands by bicycle.
At the ceremonial opening, András Holczer, deputy mayor of Balatonfüred, emphasized that more and more active tourists are coming to the city, so they want to make Balatonfüred an unmissable destination the active tourist as well.
The Hungarian Cycling Association (MKSZ) and the municipality of Balatonfüred have agreed in a 15-year contract ensuring mutual benefits within the framework of the BalatonBike365 program that the MKSZ is building and operates a cycling center in the area provided by the municipality from the EU grant awarded for this purpose.
"The goal of the cooperation was to create a service center based on a preliminary assessment of cyclists' needs and to operate it for a minimum of nine months annually, which is another step in the infrastructural development of active tourism in Balaton," said dr. Péter Princzinger president of MKSZ and the Hungarian Tourism Association Foundation.
On the land opposite the Kisfaludy beach, work began in September 2021, and the result was the northern BalatonBike365 Port, a European-level cycling center.
"Bike tourists can take possession of a modern 100 square meters building measuring, where classic, gravel and electric bikes can be rent, service their own bikes, buy small accessories, and get information for their tours, or even relax in the cyclists cafe," informed Princzinger, then added: in addition, guided tours, luggage and bicycle transport are also available, but they also organize children's bike programs.
The attitude of the Balatonfüred municipality was essential for the implementation of the investment, as well as the supporting participation of the Hungarian Tourism Agency and the Hungarian Tourism Association as consortium members in addition to the MKSZ as an applicant.
The new cycling center was built by BB365 Nkft. operated in cooperation with Balaton Bike Tour. According to Péter Burgyán, the co-founder of the company that has been offering themed tours to cyclists for years, the center with its wide range of products – from bike rental to servicing – is a good complement to the services also created within the framework of the BalatonBike365 project, such as the associated tour offers with signposted bike paths and rest areas, as well as the balatonbike365.hu website and the BB365 mobile application.
After the opening ceremony, the participants were invited to a thematic bicycle tour. During the tour, they visited the cult filming locations of the latest Hungarian film We Started Together on the waymarked cycling routes of BalatonBike365, accompanied by the director Yvonne Kerékyártó and one of the main characters of the film, Toma Hrisztov.
