The Hop on - Hop off Tourist Line around the Kamniško-Savinjske Alps entered its sixth season of operation on Saturday, 20 June. This summer brings two exceptional novelties: transport with the electric van will be completely free for all passengers, and the municipality of Gornji Grad is joining the network of participating places. The official opening of the season took place on Wednesday, 17 June, in Solčava as part of a professional event on sustainable mobility.
In the main summer season, from 20 June to 13 September, transports will run twice every day – in the morning in one direction and in the afternoon in the opposite direction. The van with eight passenger seats (8+1) will connect the places Kamnik, Komenda, Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Preddvor, Jezersko, Solčava, Luče and Gornji Grad. This circular route, fully financed by the participating municipalities, allows visitors to easily move between starting points without using their own vehicle. Due to the limited number of seats, prior reservation of a seat on the website www.hopon-hopoff.si, which is also available in English, is mandatory.
This year, the organizers further emphasize greater flexibility for individual passenger wishes. By prior arrangement, pets are welcome in the van, space for bicycles or a larger amount of luggage is provided, and entry and exit at any intermediate points along the route will also be possible. Users are kindly asked to contribute to a smooth experience by observing the timetable and making advance reservations for both directions. In case of possible changes to plans, they are also asked to cancel in a timely manner, as this enables transport for other passengers.
Introduction to the season at the professional meeting in Solčava
The new transport season was officially announced at the professional event Sustainable Destination Management: Challenges and Opportunities of Sustainable Mobility in the Kamniško-Savinjske Alps, which took place at the Rinka Center in Solčava. Already the third event in the series, taking place within the project Added Value of Water, was aimed at exchanging experiences and finding solutions in the field of sustainable mobility in the region. Before the professional part, mayors and representatives of the participating municipalities also met, emphasizing that the challenges of the mountain area can only be successfully addressed through coordinated action.
The participants were initially greeted by the mayor of the Municipality of Solčava Katarina Prelesnik, who highlighted the importance of such projects for the local environment: "I am convinced that by connecting knowledge, experiences and good practices we will more easily find solutions that will enable coordinated development of tourism, nature protection and a quality life for the local population." Anton Špeh, president of LAS Zgornje Savinjske and Šaleške doline and mayor of the Municipality of Gornji Grad, which is joining the project this year as a new destination, also addressed those present: "Mountains teach us patience, but traffic flows do not wait, so it is important that we act wisely now and above all together."
The central professional contribution at the event was prepared by dr. Matej Ogrin from the Department of Geography of the Faculty of Arts of the University of Ljubljana and president of the CIPRA Slovenia association, who emphasized the importance of long-term thinking about mobility in mountain landscapes. At the round table that followed, representatives of Solčava, Jezersko and Železna Kapla discussed how small mountain communities manage traffic flows and what challenges locals face.
The Hop on – Hop off service around the Kamniško-Savinjske Alps is not only a story about comfortable tourist transport, but above all a story about responsibility. The project represents a thoughtful intertwining of advanced shared mobility and active nature protection. The central, long-term goal of all participating municipalities remains the development of tourism based on respect for nature and the permanent protection of its resources. The free Hop on – Hop off transports are a joint contribution to this commitment – for the preservation of the clean and unspoiled mountain world today and for generations to come.
Source:
https://pzs.si/novice/18488-/