The message from the students in blockade is clear – justice does not come on its own; it is won step by step, pedal by pedal. So far, students have traveled thousands of kilometers on foot and by bicycle across Serbia, connecting villages, towns, and cities—drawing a new map of the country.
50 student cyclists will embark on the journey from Novi Sad to Strasbourg to draw attention to human rights violations in Serbia. They will undertake this bold initiative on April 3 from Novi Sad, with their return planned for April 17. The route is mainly designed to follow European cycling paths, particularly EuroVelo 6.
Students have reached out to their peers at other universities for logistical support, including coordinating with local authorities and making accommodation arrangements.
The cyclists from Novi Sad plan to cover between 100 and 150 kilometers per day.
Their journey will pass through ten cities: Novi Sad, Subotica, Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Linz, Salzburg, Munich, Stuttgart, and Strasbourg.
How to Help
“Support our mission – let our voices be heard across Europe!” the students in blockade urged, emphasizing that they need support from all citizens for this extremely demanding mission.
Donations can be delivered to the Rectorate of the University of Novi Sad, with a note specifying that they are intended for the cyclists, so that the students can allocate them exclusively for their needs. For monetary donations, you can contact the official email of the student cyclists at blokadna.pedala.uns@gmail.com.
The students are most in need of: financial support, cycling equipment, wrist braces, water and energy drinks, bungees, chocolate bars, ready-made meals, canned food and supplements (magnesium, zinc, etc.), rehydration powders and vitamins, medicines (analgesics, antihistamines, antiseptics), and dressing accessories (bandages, sterile gauze, plaster).
Students have been blockading over 60 of 80 universities in Serbia for four months. The government still has not fulfilled their demands of transparency and accountability regarding the collapse of the Novi Sad railway station canopy. Instead, various forms of repression continue to rise. Students continue to be targets of violent attacks by both hooligans and the police. On March 20, the Ministry of Education formally requested that universities call in the police to break up the student blockades.
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