As previously reported by Ripost, a local referendum was called in Biatorbágy after fierce debates began among the population about the route of the Budapest-Balaton cycle path through Biatorbágy. The Budapest-Balaton cycle path, only briefly BUBA, government-funded major investment, a cycle path connecting the capital to the Hungarian Sea, planned for 120 kilometers, a 2.2-kilometer section of which would pass through Biatorbágy.

There were heated debates about the trail

The tender for the section of the agglomeration city was closed in the autumn of 2020, a contract was signed with the contractor, but they barely started the work, there was a heated debate about whether the inner section of the cycle path would not cross the main road of the settlement. Opponents of the original trail attacked the idea because of driveways, narrow bike and car lanes, planned logging, while supporters spoke out to finally have a bike path in the city that would facilitate access to schools and shops on the main road.

A referendum was called

István Tarjáni, the mayor of the city of Fidesz finally called a local referendum, “Do you agree that the inner section of the Budapest-Balaton cycle path in Biatorbágy should not be built on the route Szabadság út – Nagy utca?” with a question held on 28 June.

There was a huge turnaround

According to many, it was possible to envelope in advance that the local referendum would eventually be invalid, and so it happened, only 35% of the city’s residents went to the polls, which was not enough to be valid. However, the turnout was enough: thousands voted not to cross the main road on the main road, with only a few hundred people voting in favor of the route originally planned. And then came the mayor’s announcement: “The local referendum is invalid, but given the turnout, as members of the FIDESZ-KDNP group, we recommend the following: the Board of Representatives revokes its decisions, proposing the route Szabadság út – Nagy utca as the route of the Budapest-Balaton cycle path, to initiate negotiations with the competent representatives of the Government of Hungary on further possibilities of the route affecting the settlement. It is important that decisions are made to the satisfaction of those who live here. ” – István Tarjáni informed the residents.

They can go cycling on the creek

The joy of his announcement was not lost, as it was no secret that the mayor supported the original route, although much has been done in recent years to finally indeed, the final word should be for the residents. The Biatorbágy section of the BUBA will not be built inland, but is expected to be built on the banks of a stream next to the city, which is attacking the original route, “Not here BUBA” dreamed of a non-governmental organization called. Marius the ferrymanThe government commissioner responsible for the construction of the Budapest-Balaton cycle path said last week: “The word of the people is the word of God”as decided in the referendum, the cycle path must be built in Biatorbágy.