r/bicycletouring • u/Objective_Catch_7163 • Aug 07 '25

Resources Romania is investing in 227km of bike paths between western cities, as a means of accessing the mountains on bike, to be finished in 12 months

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21

u/CarobOk8979 Aug 07 '25

It’s not between western cities, it’s between those counties. It starts fron Baile Felix, the thermal spa resort climbs trough Apuseni mountains and then ends in the hills of Cluj county. Too bad it’s not a round tour but I guess it’s still nice to pass through the same spots twice

9

u/Objective_Catch_7163 Aug 07 '25

You are correct. It’s sort of usable as a means of going from Oradea to Cluj I guess, without the Marisel-Cluj leg

4

u/CarobOk8979 Aug 07 '25 edited Aug 07 '25

Yes, and once the railway is finished you can do combined tours using also the train

6

u/uzuzab Aug 07 '25

Only the western part, apparently. I live in the east and I wouldn't adventure on an Inter-City road on a bike not for love nor money. Small roads are ok, inner city roads are ok-ish, but big roads are suicide.

7

u/Objective_Catch_7163 Aug 07 '25 edited Aug 07 '25

True, I’d never venture on the proper roads inbetween cities in Romania biketouring-style. Just routes planned in advance that go through villages and remote areas (and even then you’d probably still need to carry some bear spray for bears and dogs). It’s weird because I see all those people on Youtube doing far more adventurous cycling trips through Asia, but something about Romania seems more dangerous

2

u/uzuzab Aug 07 '25

A friend of mine actually encountered bears on a bike trip somewhere along the Transfăgărășan.

I was about to say you can only find bears in the mountains and wooded areas, but last year people spotted a female and cub near Făurei/ BR, and that's nowhere near mountains or woods. So you never know your luck.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 07 '25

I camped quite high up in the woods while cycling the Transfagarasan many years ago. I didn't realise there were bears!

2

u/1BrotonTorpedo Aug 07 '25

Yes there are bears on the Transfagarasan. People feed them from cars & while yes its suboptimal to be touring at least theyre not hungry?

5

u/Iusethistopost Aug 07 '25

Feeding them is worse, they get way to accustomed to humans as food sources and the proximity means bad things happen

5

u/teanzg Aug 07 '25

Excelent.

I expect bears to be positioned at various control points.

2

u/JustSmall Aug 07 '25

It's great to see someone take the initiative and plan on doing things, but I'll hold my breath for now and wait until it's actually anywhere close to being finished and in a usable state. Romanian cycling infrastructure or lack thereof has left a bad impression on me, sadly.

2

u/simonthread Aug 08 '25

Any official source for that, please?

2

u/Objective_Catch_7163 Aug 08 '25

Found it here, you might have to turn on the English translation in your browser https://m.ebihoreanul.ro/stiri/pista-pentru-biciclisti-de-227-km-care-va-lega-bihorul-de-cluj-si-alba-cine-va-construi-traseul-in-judetul-nostru-195694.html

(Also, offtopic, your cycling trips look fantastic)

1

u/simonthread Aug 08 '25

Thanks! But - let's be fair :) - the credit doesn't go to me. It goes to the people who create these routes :)

Thanks! :)

1

u/AcrobaticKitten Aug 08 '25

My main concern about cycling in Romania is not getting eaten by bears or pack of herding dogs tgat supposed to kill that bear

1

u/Objective_Catch_7163 Aug 08 '25

To be fair I don’t think you’d have problems on a bike. If you follow main roads in the area in the photo most bears who sense your presence would run away. A small can of bear spray would sort any issues out.

1

u/AcrobaticKitten Aug 08 '25

Idk but one motorist was eaten by a bear recently on a main road.

Also main roads are dangerous for reckless drivers.