Facilities for cyclists

Sibiu is the city with the first restaurant giving a 10% discount to their customers who come by bike.

Ana-Maria Cononovici, 19.10.2014, 13:39

Riding a bicycle is a pleasant way of spending time, and in the past years it has been seen as a healthy activity, which helps people stay in good shape. Many articles in glossy or wellness magazines recommend this activity with promising headlines such as: “Driving a bicycle helps you burn out calories”, “Cycling charges you with energy” or “Riding a bicycle tones your muscles”. If you are one of those who ride a bike to work, besides the fact that you benefit from an effective and handy means of transport, you have the chance of relieving yourselves from stress and many other advantages.

The city of Sibiu, in central Romania is now home to the first restaurant that gives a 10% discount to those who go there by bike. Radu Coica, the manager of the restaurant, explains where the idea came from:

“The idea actually reflects a growing trend in Sibiu, which started in 2007, when bicycle lanes started being built in the city. Following that measure, the number of bicycle lovers has grown, and there are many events and clubs that support bike riding. So, to promote bike riding as well, we thought of something to bring bikers to us. We opened the restaurant this spring and we thought it was a good idea for those who like to exercise, so we tried to come up with a practical combination, to include healthy food, will less fats, and even vegetarian food. Now that winter is about to settle in, the number of cyclists reaching the historical centre will probably diminish. However, the pedestrian area is quite large, including Hued Square, Small Square, Big Square and the Balcesu area, so riding a bike to the historical centre and the surrounding area has become quite convenient for many inhabitants of the city.”

As most restaurants only provide free parking for bikes, this one allures you with a 10% discount. Right from the very entrance to the restaurant, a board with a cyclist drawn on it announces the promotion, so there are bicycles parked in front of that restaurant every day, their owners sitting relaxed and enjoying a tranquil atmosphere, as well as the 10% discount. Both citizens of Sibiu and tourists who rent bikes are happy to see their bills smaller and to have a safe place to park their bikes.

Radu Coica tells us what bikers usually order:

“Those who burn calories riding their bicycles are willing to have more substantial meals. And there are also those who, apart from exercising, also want light meals. We haven’t focused on a special menu for bikers, our menus are quite diverse and combine Romanian cuisine with international elements. We have pizza and pasta, particularly for the young, as well as bean soup in bread bowl or Transylvania-style goulash served in bread bowls. We take great pride in our deserts: our floating island reminds our clients of their childhood, and we are one of the few places that serve boiled dumplings. There are people who come here specially for this desert.”

Radu Coica told us that, although this is not the only initiative of this kind, a lot of people came and took photos of the restaurant sign and voiced their surprise. They say they are tempted not necessarily by the discount itself, but rather by the concept. And still, our interlocutor told us he feels part of a larger trend:

“There are companies that support bicycle riding, even the Evangelical Church supports it, and the church employees get bonuses depending on the number of kilometers they ride each month. There are a lot of projects run jointly with the City Hall and the County Council, which has recently built a bike lane connecting the city to the villages of Rasinari and Poplaca. It is a bike lane where the young people of Sibiu can be safe outside the city, which is a rare occurrence in Romania.”

The city of Sibiu has more than 71 km of bike lanes, the most popular of them being the one in the Dumbrava Forest, where the number of bikers has increased substantially. There is also another pub in Sibiu that uses bicycles for promotion purposes. The Bicicleta French Pub has three bikes, painted in the colours of the pub, hung on the front wall, but the pub does not offer bike riders any discounts.

Although the life of bike riders is improving across the country, with 60 km of lanes in the western city of Timisoara or 100 km in the capital Bucharest, many bikers still complain that some lanes are not properly marked, and that in smaller cities they are absent altogether. Therefore, any initiative to support cycling, anywhere in the country, is highly appreciated.