Walking or cycling to work brings freedom to our colleagues

At the UCM in Trnava, we spoke to several colleagues who choose more environmentally friendly modes of transport instead of cars every day. Their personal stories show that alternatives bring more than just cleaner air – they also enrich everyday life.

Travel is an experience and freedom

Magdaléna Švecová, head of the Department of Digital Games, travels to work mainly by bicycle, specifically on the smaller Eska model. “Everyone laughs at me because I’m small and I’m big,” she laughs. Other times, she uses public transport or walks. She didn’t buy a car on purpose: “Even though I’m an experienced driver, I’ve been refusing to buy a car for a long time because it doesn’t seem environmentally friendly to me.”
For longer journeys, such as visiting her parents in Liptov, she prefers the train, where she can comfortably read, work or meet new people during the journey. “Within Trnava, a car is completely unnecessary, because you can be everywhere within half an hour at most, and it’s healthier to cycle.” She does her larger purchases online. This method clearly brings her “freedom” and a place to challenge others: “Leaving your comfort zone means new comfort – health or experience-related. You won’t experience so much in a car.”

Walking is the cleanest

Vice-Rector and Associate Professor Andrea Čajková walks to work, and when she needs to travel on business and can, she takes the train. This choice is not only practical, but also fair: “It’s close to me and there are few parking spaces near the university, I don’t want to take up space for colleagues who travel from longer distances.” Daily exercise has a positive impact on both her mood and performance: “I exercise, I don’t get annoyed when looking for parking. And when I travel by train, I also have time and space to work or clear my head.”

Bicycle as the fastest choice

Mgr. Veronika Mikušová, a study officer at the Institute of Management, has chosen a bicycle as her daily means of transport. “It is a more convenient way for me, because I can quickly get from point A to point B, even during the morning rush hour.” Another advantage is the hassle-free parking, zero parking fees and savings on petrol. In addition to the practical aspects, she also appreciates the positive start to the day: “I have more energy right from the morning, I can get into a positive mood for work.” She recommends to others: “Jump on a bicycle, get out of your comfort zone and try something new – it is better and more comfortable than a car or a bus.”

A combination of bicycle and walking

Ing. Bibiána Brezovská, a study officer at the Faculty of Arts, uses a bicycle from spring to autumn and walks on foot in the winter months. Another practical reason is that they only have one car in the household, which my husband needs for commuting to work. “We have a bike path almost from our house to the university, so a bike is a natural choice,” she explains. Winter walking, she says, has significant health benefits: “Walking is good for everyone, and when you don’t have far to work, it’s the easiest option.”

Train connects, bike liberates

Professor from the Faculty of Arts Matúš Porubjak uses a combination of walking and train transport, depending on where he sets off from. He never wanted to own a car, so the choice of an ecological alternative was clear. This method brings him freedom and a feeling of greater connection with the environment: “I consider owning a car to be a type of dependence and disconnection from oneself and the environment.”

In conclusion, he recommends to his colleagues: “Try it, you will be more in touch with yourself, with the community, with the place you are passing through, and the bonus is that you will not destroy the environment through CO₂, emissions or microplastics, and you will also not kill insects and small animals unnecessarily.”

You can also find a short video from this event on Instagram: HERE.

Video production: Ján Proner