Blind cyclist Kristijan Lazarev rode a tandem on Prespa’s first inclusive tour

Kristijan Lazarev, a young man from Skopje who lost his sight in his teens, took part today in the first inclusive cycling tour around Lake Prespa — riding a 26-year-old tandem with a sighted partner at the front.

"I grew up on a bike. I lost my sight later, around my 15th year and I didn't ride until about my twenties. Then I learned tandems existed. I bought one and in Skopje I mostly ride with my sister. Riding is the same as on a regular bicycle; you just have to coordinate with the co-rider, start and stop together. We can reach speeds above 30 kilometres without problems," Lazarev said.

Adaptive equipment and gaps in the market

The tandem he rode is part of a wider set of adaptive bikes that help people with disabilities move more freely, be active in sport and improve quality of life. However, such bicycles are not yet commercially available in North Macedonia.

"There are a few tandems in Skopje, purchased wherever people could find them. They are usually brought in from abroad. There are 5–6 enthusiasts who ride them. Maintenance is also an issue because spare parts are hard to find," Lazarev added.

The ride included people with and without physical disabilities on adaptive and standard bicycles, following a route along Lake Prespa from Pretor to Slivnica and back. The event was organised as part of the "Prespa advenTOURS" project by the association Ikuality in partnership with Idnina na Tradicijata from Resen.

"This is a phenomenal event for us. I have limited mobility, so the adaptive bike allows me to operate it with my hands," said Aleksandar Stojanovski of Idnina na Tradicijata.

Organisers said the ride promoted Prespa as an inclusive destination where everyone can participate equally in tourism, sport and culture, while noting that local and tourist infrastructure still needs improvement.

"In Skopje there are several adaptive-cycling paths, but unfortunately local and tourist spots lack sufficiently developed infrastructure. I would like this to improve soon so there is more space for bicycles, eco-friendly transport and reduced car traffic," said Gera Tripkov of Ikuality.

From September, people with disabilities in Prespa will be able to rent various adaptive bicycles. "Each bike has a battery and a motor that supports propulsion while riding and makes it even easier to enjoy the surroundings and stay active. Rental prices will be very competitive: 1,500 denars for the smaller models and 2,000–2,500 denars for bikes with more equipment," Tripkov said.

The tour is part of the "Magic of Prespa" project within the EU for Prespa programme, supported by the Delegation of the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

"Today we open the door to Prespa for cycling routes accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. We want Prespa to become a destination everyone can enjoy and where nobody is left out," said Marijana Milevska, project manager at UNDP.

In the coming months UNDP will work on marking out an earth-surface cycling trail of more than 100 kilometres around Lake Prespa, connecting Konjsko with Dolno Dupeni. The route will include a section dedicated to adaptive cycling. With the new trail and the adaptive fleet, Prespa aims to become a destination where nature and tourist amenities are available to all, regardless of physical ability.

Photo: SDK.MK)