Feasibility and cost of a bicycle in Krakow?

Hi All,

How feasible is to buy a bicycle in Krakow? what will be the average cost of decent one..?

Is it feasible to commute by cycle for daily up n down to office..based on pollution/road condition/climate..??

Thanks
Bhasker P

600-1,2000+ zl

April to November-yes. As far as pollution is concerned get a face mask, it all depends on the distance between your home and the office. Most flats have a basement to store a bike.

Not sure about Krakow, but considering a little smaller city like Wroclaw... cyclist do not use face masks here ;)
As for basements - my bicycle was once stollen from that, so I believe that more safe are special rooms for bicycles which are in many buildings (till someone will steal from there...). Anyway, if you don't intend to worry about your bicycle then just buy something drivable and cheap, which when stollen don't make you drop any tears... For mega fun you can buy of course some expensive bicycle - but that one keep safe in flat.

Another thing: it is rather better to leave bicycles in the open when in town than hide them in some dark hall.

Not sure about Krakow but I commute 120km a week in Wroclaw and it is streets ahead of using a car or public transport.

You can spend as much or as little as you like, but make sure that you buy a bike that fits you- watch out for bike shops trying to manipulate you, which has unfortunately happened a couple of times to me.

Don't bother with the mask, they do nothing but restrict breathing and give you a sweaty face. Particles from diesel smoke are extremely fine and cannot be filtered by these masks and the carbon monoxide simply passes through too.

Buy two quality locks - not an armoured cable lock. Use at least one quality d lock and lock the rear wheel, frame and an immovable object together and lock your front with the other.

If you lock securely then thiefs will just move to the badly locked bike 2 metres away.

Thanks All...:)

Hi All,

Thanks for all the information.

Its been 3 weeks in Krakow..:D..

as you all said..I am loving the city....its beautiful....

I also have bought a bike(Cycle) from Hala Taragowa...place suggested by one of the co-worker.
Also got a shared apt in Rzaska..15 mins from my workplace by bike..(KBP)

Just wanted to say thanks to all...

You were really fortunate to have such a short commute. I'm sure the cost of the bicycle will pay for itself very quickly :)

do any of u guys ride in winter? with special wheels etc, or just not worth it?

it's perfectly feasible to ride a bike on snow on the lowest gears but it sure takes a lot mor time (glazed over surfaces are still to be avoided)

I do sometimes. From legal point of view winter wheels for bicycles till middle of 2010 were illegal in Poland (those with this metal hobnails), now they are supposedly legal.

I didn't try them but I'm going to...

That's an obstacle I didn't think of. Rains sometimes in my area, during the winter months. Snow is seldom ever seen in my vicinity. It's more like an annoying frost, that delays people's travel time.

Prices start from 500 zlotys for a simple supermarket bike, through 1000 zlotys for a better supermarket one, to 1400 for a normal bike in a bike shop.

You can also buy a good second hand bike for 800-1000 zlotys which normally would cost you 1600.

On average, prepare 1000 zlotys.

it's ok to ride on the first fall of snow, but you're more likely to slip on the second fall. the top layer of snow will slip on the bottom layer. cornering is the problem.