On Sunday, 16 April 2023, a cycling tour organised by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Osijek was held along the Osijek – Kopački Rit route. In addition to promoting a healthy lifestyle and physical activity, the aim of the cycling tour was to inform the public about the challenges faced by people with dyslexia and other reading difficulties, encourage closer cooperation between relevant institutions and professionals, and promote the production of books adapted for people who are unable to read standard print. This year’s cycling tour was once again organised in support of the Croatian Library Association’s I Want to Read Too campaign, which the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Osijek officially joined in 2019.
This year, SUVAG Polyclinic Osijek joined the organising team, which for the fourth consecutive year included the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Osijek, the Libros Information Sciences Student Club, the City and University Library Osijek, the Association of Librarians of Slavonia, Baranja and Srijem, and the Osijek branch of the Croatian Reading Association.
A total of 54 participants completed the 15-kilometre route in each direction along the Drava River embankment. Thanks to the Sport for All association, around ten participants who did not own bicycles were also able to take part in the ride. Before departure, Eleonora Matić, a police officer for prevention from the Office of the Head of the Osijek-Baranja Police Administration, introduced the participants to traffic rules for cyclists as part of the preventive activities of the Let’s Cycle project.
At the finish in Kopački Rit, a short programme was organised to introduce participants to the challenges associated with dyslexia. After a short break with chocolate energy bars, the participants set off back towards Osijek accompanied by a police bicycle escort.
Since all participants successfully completed this year’s route, including the youngest cyclist, who was only eight years old, and a participant riding a pedal-powered unicycle without electric assistance, we invite members of the public to join us in even greater numbers next year.
Sanjica Faletar
