Exploring Tirana by bike - thanks to Ecovolis

Monday, 02 December 2024 00:00
Written by Portal Editor

The centre of the city of Tirana is clearly Skanderbeg Square, which is surrounded by the National Historical Museum, the Tirana International Hotel, the Palace of Culture, the Et'hem Bey Mosque and the clock tower behind it and the TID Tower, the building ensemble from the fascist era and the Bank of Albania.

Once again, our caravan location was the Hotel Baron in the Sauk district, from where we wanted to explore the now much more modern Tirana city centre again. We have been using the parking space at the hotel for years, as it is conveniently located near the E 852 towards Elbasan. Since there are now even numerous cycle paths, it was clear to us that we should explore again by bike. A lot has happened, even if there were some teething problems. No comparison with the first time we crossed Tirana in a caravan!

Ecovolis - the bicycle sharing program in Tirana

Of course, we had heard about the Ecovolis bicycle sharing program and asked about the nearest rental station, but even Florian could not provide any information on this. Ecovolis was a community-based bicycle sharing program in Tirana that was launched on March 22, 2011 by an environmental NGO called Social Stimulating Alternatives Program (PASS). The system was initially based on 4, then 6 bicycle stations, each manned by two staff members in two shifts. During its life, the Ecovolis program was quite successful in increasing bicycle use in Tirana.

Initially, the Tirana Community Bicycle Albania project was supported by the PASS organization and the US-based Pedal for Progress organization, which donated 450 bicycles. 60 of these were used road bikes that were modified and painted by local technicians to serve as public bicycles under the Ecovolis program.

Each Ecovolis station was staffed by two employees in two shifts and had 30 to 60 bicycles. In 2014, four stations were operating in Tirana and about 2000 users had registered. To use the bikes, one had to present a personal identification document (passport or ID card) or subscribe to the Ecovolis membership card. The bikes were equipped with a front bike basket, a rear rack, a comfortable saddle and a sturdy mudguard with the Ecovolis sign. The bike stations also provided visitors with tourist information and a list of the city's main attractions. As it was a non-profit social enterprise, the program sometimes offered free bike service, bike lessons, donations of bikes and helmets to needy children, bike tours and a bike recycling program.

People who register for the program identify themselves with the Ecovolis membership card at each bike station. For visitors, use cost about €1.00 per day. In 2014, Ecovolis allowed users to collect credits for free bicycle use at some of its kiosks by returning metal cans for recycling.

Since March 22, 2011, when the Ecovolis initiative began, 80 bicycles were not returned or stolen in the first year, i.e. an average of 10 bicycles per month. The bicycles were replaced and added to the stations in three different phases.

A problem that unfortunately happens in many places and causes many projects to fail. Well, we want to use our own bikes anyway. An advantage for the journey into the city centre: it is almost continuously downhill. But it is also clear that the return journey would be exhausting.

By bike to Tirana city centre

Along SH3 Rruga e Elbasanit, formerly the main road towards Elbasan, you go down to the roundabout, then turn left onto Rruga Herman Gmeiner and then through Tirana Park to Skanderbeg Square.

From Skanderbeg Square, the city's main streets radiate out in all directions.

Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard is the central axis and leads south past the Ministry of the Interior and Defense, Rinia Park, the National Art Gallery, the Hotel Dajti, across the Lana, the Pyramid of Tirana, the Lulishtja e tre vëllezërve Frashëri Park, the Twin Towers, past the Council of Ministers, the Government Building, the Rogner Hotel, the Qemal Stafa Park, the President's Residence and the Congress Palace, to Mother Teresa Square with the University, the Polytechnic University and the University of Arts, as well as the Air Albania Stadium, which is set back a little.

To the north of the stadium is the ABA Business Centre and to the south is the Sheraton Hotel at the foot of the small hill on which the Great Park (Parku i madh) is located. There is a German military cemetery in the park. Behind the artificial lake are the botanical and zoological gardens, all of which are easy to reach by bike.

Public transport within Tirana is handled exclusively by public bus lines. There are lines from Skanderbeg Square to the outlying districts and a ring line that circles the centre in both directions. In 2010, the city administration purchased new buses. In addition, several bus lanes have been set up in recent years so that buses get stuck in traffic jams less. Additional bus lanes are intended to make public transport more attractive.

Buses run daily from Tirana to all major cities in the country and also to major cities in Europe.

The planned new Terminal i transportit publik Tirana train station in the north of the city is to be a transport hub between local and long-distance public transport. In addition to the railway, a bus station is to serve internal Albanian transport.

In the future, a tram (trami) will provide connections to the city. Two tram lines are planned: one from the train station to the university, which crosses the city centre from north to south, and a second line that runs from the suburb of Dajt in the east across Tirana to the Kombinat district in the west. It is uncertain when construction of the tram will begin.

The Blloku west of the central boulevard was a residential area that was only inhabited by senior politicians before the democratic transition, including Enver Hoxha. In recent years, numerous cafés, trendy bars, chic restaurants, boutiques, office buildings and high-rise buildings such as the Sky Tower with revolving restaurant have sprung up here in a very small space.

The district is now often referred to as the playground of the young elite.

Further west is the Komuna e Parisit district with numerous modern high-rise buildings and the Selman Stërmasi Stadium.

In addition to numerous green spaces in the city centre, the Great Park south of the university is an inviting place to linger. It borders the artificial lake, next to which is the municipal swimming pool. In earlier times, the park housed the Orthodox Church of Shën Prokopi. The atheist communists issued a total ban on religion in 1967 - a restaurant was built on the site of the church. After the introduction of democracy, the building was converted back into a church.

East of the boulevard on the north bank of the Lana is the Catholic St. Paul's Cathedral (Alb. Shën Pali). Further east is an old Ottoman stone bridge crossing the Lana (Ura e Tabakëve). The city's largest food market, Pazari i ri, is located east of Skanderbeg Square around Avni Rustemi Square.

Northwest of Skanderbeg Square is the Sheshi Karl Thopia (formerly Sheshi Zogu i Zi), where the highways to Durrës and Shkodra begin.

Zogu I Boulevard leads north from the central Skanderbeg Square and is lined with many boutiques and restaurants. The street ends at Sheshi Franc Nopca Square, where the Tirana train station of the Hekurudha Shqiptare used to be. An extension to the north is currently being worked on (2014).

Outer districts

In the Lapraka district in the northwest of Tirana is the largest hospital in Albania, called Spitali Ushtarak - "military hospital". The university hospital is located next to the "Skanderbeg" Military Academy northeast of Skanderbeg Square.

In the very southwestern tip of the city is the district of Kombinati, a formerly large industrial area with many factories and businesses and many houses for the workers.