Iași–Chișinău cycling tour gathers dozens to promote eco-mobility and road safety
Over 150 kilometres, in sweltering heat and after hours of cycling, nothing could deter the dozens of amateur cyclists who pedalled with passion from Iași to Chișinău. Accompanied by police officers from both sides of the Prut, they demonstrated that borders can be crossed with determination and energy.
Teodor, one of the participants, travels over 20,000 kilometers by bicycle each year around the globe. This year, he travelled the Iași-Chișinău route for the first time.
"I saw the roads—they are beautiful, the people are welcoming, and the towns feel like we are in Romania," he said.
At the Sculeni customs post, cyclists from Chișinău welcomed their guests.
"The road was quite good, the heat was intense, but otherwise, our journey went very well. We received a warm welcome from our brothers across the Prut. We are happy and we look forward to seeing you too," one participant said.
"I came with my family, my 15-year-old son and my husband, and this is our first experience of cycling such long distances," another cyclist shared.
"This breathtaking event is organized at the highest level, and we hope to have such races as frequently as possible," added another cyclist.
"Our shared passion for cycling unites us, and I am glad that fellow cyclists from Chișinău came here to welcome us. It felt like we were connected, and in the end, we are doing what we love, which brings us together," said Lucian Mîndruță, the organizer of the event.
Police officers highlighted the importance of promoting cycling as an eco-friendly mode of transport while also addressing the associated risks.
"What we hope for is to encourage those who have not yet ridden a bike to start cycling. Cycling is a non-polluting mode of transportation. We, the police, support this, even though the statistics show that the number of road accidents involving cyclists is quite high in both Romania and the Republic of Moldova," stated Daniel Zontea, a police inspector in Romania.
The goal of the bike tour is to reduce the number of road accidents involving cyclists by increasing visibility and raising public awareness. Over 100 cyclists visited several tourist attractions in the Republic of Moldova on Saturday, and on Sunday morning, they will pedal back to Iași.
