Zagreb plans new 8km pedestrian and cycling highway

The City of Zagreb has officially launched the process to develop a conceptual design for the transformation of the former Samoborček narrow-gauge railway into a new eight-kilometre cycling and pedestrian magistral, HRT reported.

The project aims to revitalise the historic railway corridor by converting it into a fully segregated, car-free route that would connect western districts of the city directly with the urban centre.

The planned cycling magistral would also form part of a broader link towards Samobor, reinforcing an already popular transport and recreation corridor.

The former Samoborček route has for many years been widely used by cyclists, particularly those living in western parts of the city.

It serves as a direct and practical connection towards Samobor, Podsused, and further onwards towards Slovenia.

According to Marko Velzek, Deputy Head of the City Office for Transport, the route offers a rare opportunity to significantly improve cycling infrastructure without interfering with major roadways.

On large city avenues, Velzek explained, it is often impossible to create sufficiently wide cycling lanes. As a result, the former Samoborček corridor represents an ideal solution for cyclists from western Zagreb. City officials are confident the route will see high levels of daily use once developed.

Part of a wider cycling strategy

Velzek also commented on the progress of Zagreb’s eastern cycling magistral. The first phase has already been completed, with 1,600 metres of cycling infrastructure built beneath the railway overpass along Branimirova Street.

The section is already proving popular, featuring night-time lighting and a well-lit path that has attracted both cyclists and pedestrians, including local residents walking their dogs. Preparatory documentation is currently being developed for the second phase of the eastern magistral.

While the expansion of cycling infrastructure is often associated with the ideology of the current city administration, the practical impact is increasingly visible on Zagreb’s streets.

Cyclists are steadily becoming equal participants in the city’s transport system, with some observers noting that they are now among the most prioritised users of urban space.