THE ORGANISERS OF EYOF MAKE SURE THAT THEY RESTRICT THE BYSTRICA RESIDENTS AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE WITHIN THE TRANSFER

From the very beginning of preparations and provision of the European Youth Olympic Festival EYOF Banská Bystrica 2022, organisers have made sure that on the days of July 24 to 30, Banská Bystrica residents are restricted as little as possible within the transfer. An event of global dimensions, the likes of which has never been seen before in Slovakia, will nevertheless require traffic regulation, especially during cycling competitions – time trials and races with a mass start of girls and boys from 48 European countries. We ask all residents, as well as visitors to the city, to be patient, respect the instructions of the organisers and follow the portable traffic signs.   

Opening and closing ceremonies (July 24 and 30)

On the day of the beginning of European Youth Olympic Festival, July 24, 2022, the people of Banská Bystrica will have a unique opportunity to see and greet the parade of all 3.500 domestic and foreign participants and athletes of the event. At approximately 7:00 p.m. they´ll go from the SNP National Athletic Stadium in Štiavničky alongside the ESC to Námestie SNP and through Kapitulská street they will reach the opening ceremony site – the park under the SNP Memorial. During the opening and closing ceremonies, one lane on Námestie slobody will be reserved for sports expedition buses, which will take sports expeditions to their accommodation facilities. 

Parking lots reserved for EYOF needs

During the duration of the event, people of Banská Bystrica will not be able to use the Štiavničky parking lot near the SNP National Athletic Stadium, parking spaces in front of the Barbakan and the BBSK Office on Námestie Š. Moysesa, parking area near the ice cream under the SNP Memorial and they´ll not be able to park in the part of ČSA street near the Land Register Office. At the same time, a gravel parking lot on Bellušova street and parking spaces near the winter stadium, where competitions in sports gymnastics will take place, will be reserved for the needs of EYOF participants and organisers. Parking lots in front of the House of Culture building, the dormitories on Tajovského Street, on Trieda SNP street and part of the area in front of the SZU Hall will also be occupied for the purpose of the event. 

Increased bus traffic should be expected 

The organisers ensure the transfer of participants and athletes between individual sports grounds and accommodation facilities by means of shuttle transport, which will only be used by accredited persons. Residents can spot buses with the proper markings at the public transport stops known as: Plážové kúpalisko, Štefánikovo nábrežie, Námestie slobody, Tajovského, Internátna… „The busiest place where the people of Banská Bystrica may feel restrictions will be at the beach swimming pool from the ZAaRES side. The large parking lot will serve as the main station for shuttle buses. In the area of the swimming pool, there will also be a catering tent with a rest area and facilities, where all participants of the event and athletes will eat or recharge before their sports performances. The passage for pedestrians, as well as the entrance and exit to the parking lot in this location will be regulated by the municipal police. In this section, the speed will also be reduced to 30 km/h,“ explains transport director Peter Iľanovský from the EYOF organising committee. 

Traffic restrictions due to cycling races – time trial

In cycling, girls and boys from 48 European countries will compete for medals in time trials and mass start races, during which traffic regulation and the closure of the relevant route will be necessary in the city. The time trial will take place on July 24 (training) with the route closing at 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. and on Tuesday, July 26 (race) with the route closing from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with start and finish at Námestie SNP.  Athletes will follow the route through Lazovná street, Medený Hámor, Kostiviarska road, Jakubská road and back, arriving at the destination via Ján Botto and Horná Strieborná streets. During these dates, it is also necessary to expect a change in the traffic regime on Bakoss Street and the closure of Námestie Š. Moysesa to Slovak Post. At the time of closure, it will not be possible for public or individual transport vehicles to pass through the mentioned streets. Public transport lines and affected suburban bus routes will run on alternative routes, respecting the closed road sections. Specific information about line routes, omitted or added stops will be published by the carrier in the form of notices at bus stops, in vehicles and on the website www.sadzv.sk. 

Individual race with a mass start

An increased number of cyclists on the roads in the city of Banská Bystrica and its surroundings should be expected on July 27, when cyclists will have official training on the main road race track. Although there will be no road closures on this day, we ask all residents and visitors to be considerate and pay extra attention on the main ring road. It leads from Námetie SNP through Kapitulská Street to Horná Mičiná, Dolná Mičiná, through Lukavica, Veľká Lúka, Hronsek, Vlkanová, Badín, Rakytovce, Kremnička, Sládkovičova Street to the finish at Námestie SNP, while two circuits will be run in both categories. Traffic restrictions must be expected on this route on the day of the mass race on Thursday, July 28 from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. Individual road sections on the race course will be gradually closed and opened by mobile patrols of the SR Police before the first competitors pass and after the last competitor passes. The aforementioned measures will also affect city and suburban bus services, which will wait for the line to open at stops or at the beginning of closed sections, according to police instructions. On all roads and intersections, organisers will regulate traffic and provide information about possible detours. 

On Thursday, July 28, parking will not be allowed in the entire section of Kapitulská Street, and the upper part of the street from the intersection with Cikkerova Street will be closed for the purposes of organising the race and safe passage of cyclists. Pedestrian restrictions must also be taken into account in the start and finish zone at Námestie SNP, as the necessary technical facilities for the race and a corridor for cyclists to pass from the road section of Dolná Street and Námestie SNP towards Kapitulská Street will be located here. This will be defined by mobile barriers

Residents are asked to respect the instructions of the police, organisers, as well as traffic signs and not to enter the race course during its closure from side roads or neighbouring properties, or not to leave parked vehicles on the side of the road on the streets and roads along which the race route runs.