Editing Transport in Slovenia (section)

== Roads ==
[[File:BicikeLJ Ljubljana-Prešernov trg.JPG|thumb|[[BicikeLJ]], a Ljubljana-based self-service bicycle network, is free of charge for the first hour.]]
With the share of over 80%, the road freight and passenger transport constitutes the largest part of transport in Slovenia.<ref name="MW2009SORS">{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.si/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=2582 |title=Teden mobilnosti 2009 |trans-title=Mobility Week 2009 |publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia |date=15 September 2009 |access-date=12 April 2012 |archive-date=13 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213181341/http://www.stat.si/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=2582 }}</ref> Personal cars are much more popular than public road passenger transport, which has significantly declined.<ref name="MW2009SORS" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://kazalci.arso.gov.si/?data=indicator&ind_id=214 |title=Lastništvo avtomobilov v gospodinjstvih |language=sl |trans-title=Car Ownership in Households |publisher=Environment Agency of Slovenia |author=Bernard Vukadin, Barbara |author2=Kušar, Urška |author3=Burja, Alenka |date=25 October 2009}}</ref> [[Highways in Slovenia|Motorways and expressways]], operated by the [[Motorway Company in the Republic of Slovenia]], are the state roads of the highest category.<ref name="UL732">{{cite web |url=http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=2010109&stevilka=5732 |title=Zakon o cestah |language=sl |trans-title=Roads Act |date=30 December 2010 |publisher=Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia}}</ref> On motorways and express ways, cars must have a [[vignette (road tax)|toll sticker]].<ref name="ECORYS2011">{{cite book |chapter-url=http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/evaluation/pdf/evasltrat_tran/slovenia.pdf |chapter=Situation per mode of transport |title=Study on Strategic Evaluation on Transport Investment Priorities under Structural and Cohesion funds for the Programming Period 2007-2013 |date=August 2006 |publisher=ECORYS Nederland BV}}</ref> Slovenia has a very high motorway density compared to the European Union average.<ref name="ECORYS2011" /> The first highway in Slovenia, the [[A1 motorway (Slovenia)|A1 motorway]] connecting [[Vrhnika]] and [[Postojna]], was opened in 1972,<ref name="built highways">{{Cite web |url=http://www.dars.si/Dokumenti/About_motorways/National_motorway_construction_programme/Built_motorways_and_expressways_286.aspx |title=Built motorways and expressways |publisher=Motorway Company in the Republic of Slovenia |access-date=19 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511095836/http://www.dars.si/Dokumenti/About_motorways/National_motorway_construction_programme/Built_motorways_and_expressways_286.aspx |archive-date=11 May 2011 }}</ref> but the construction was sped up significantly in 1994, when the National Assembly enacted the first [[National Motorway Construction Programme]].<ref name="Oplotnik2004">{{cite conference |url=http://dinamico2.unibg.it/highways/paper/oplotnik.pdf |title=National motorway construction program (NMCP) in Slovenia (financing, impact on national economy and realisation) |author=Oplotnik, Žan |author2=Križanič, France |book-title=Highways: cost and regulation in Europe |date=November 2004 |access-date=12 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120161909/https://dinamico2.unibg.it/highways/paper/oplotnik.pdf |archive-date=20 November 2012 }}</ref> Till February 2012, a network consisting of {{convert|528|km|abbr=on}} of motorways, expressways and similar roads has been built.<ref name="built highways" /> Its essential section,<ref name="Oplotnik2004" /> the [[Slovenian Motorway Cross]], which is part of the [[Trans-European Road network]], was completed in October 2011.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dnevnik.si/tiskane_izdaje/dnevnik/1042484160 |title=Slovenski avtocestni križ zgrajen |trans-title=The Slovenian Motorway Cross Completed |first=Primož |last=Knez |newspaper=Dnevnik.si |date=29 October 2011}}</ref> It comprises the motorway route heading from east to west, in line with the Pan-European Corridor V, and the motorway route heading in the north–south direction, in line with the Pan-European Corridor X,<ref name="Oplotnik2004" /> part of which is considered the Slovenian transport backbone.<ref name="ECORYS2011" /> The newly built road system slowly, but steadily transforms Slovenia into a large conurbation and connects it as a unitary social, economic and cultural space, with links to neighbouring areas.<ref>{{cite conference |url=ftp://ftp.cgs.si/Uporabniki/UrosZ/clanki/10.%20kongres%20o%20cestah%20in%20prometu/19-24.pdf |title=Narodnogospodarske koristi in razvojne možnosti prometnih sistemov v RS |language=sl, en |trans-title=National Economic Benefits and the Possibilities of the Development of Transport Systems in the Republic of Slovenia |first=Peter |last=Gabrijelčič |book-title=10th Slovenian Road and Transport Congress |date=October 2010 }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In contrast, other state roads, managed by the [[Slovenian Infrastructure Agency]] (until January 2015 named Slovenian Roads Agency), have been rapidly deteriorating due to neglect and the overall increase in traffic.<ref name="ECORYS2011" /> About half of them are in a bad condition.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://www.siol.net/novice/slovenija/2012/01/drzavne_ceste.aspx |title=Kar polovica od šest tisoč kilometrov državnih cest je v slabem stanju |language=sl |trans-title=Quite a Half of Six Thousand Kilometers of the State Roads Are in a Bad Condition |access-date=12 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516073008/http://www.siol.net/novice/slovenija/2012/01/drzavne_ceste.aspx |archive-date=16 May 2012 }}</ref> The urban and suburban network served by buses is relatively dense.<ref name="ECORYS2011" />

===Highways===
{{main|Highways in Slovenia}}
The first [[highway]] in [[Slovenia]], the [[A1 motorway (Slovenia)|A1]], was opened in 1958 as part of the major Yugoslav project of the [[Brotherhood and Unity Highway]]. The section between Ljubljana and Zagreb was built by 54,000 volunteers in less than eight months in 1958.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.park.si/2008/11/nova-razstav-v-dolenjskem-muzeju-cesta-ki-je-spremenila-dolenjsko/ |title=Nova razstava v Dolenjskem muzeju: Cesta, ki je spremenila Dolenjsko |language=sl |trans-title=The New Exhibition in the Lower Carniolan Museum: The Road that Transformed the Lower Carniola |date=28 November 2008 |first=Uroš |last=Lubej |newspaper=Park.si |access-date=26 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615111642/http://www.park.si/2008/11/nova-razstav-v-dolenjskem-muzeju-cesta-ki-je-spremenila-dolenjsko/ |archive-date=15 June 2018 }}</ref> It connects [[Vrhnika]] and [[Postojna]]. Constructed under the liberal minded government of [[Stane Kavčič]] their development plan envisioned a modern highway network spanning Slovenia and connecting the republic to [[transport in Italy|Italy]] and [[transport in Austria|Austria]]. After the liberal fraction of the [[Communist Party of Slovenia]] was deposed, expansion of the Slovenian highway network came to a halt. In the 1990s the new country started the 'National Programme of Highway Construction', effectively re-using the old communist plans. Since then about 400&nbsp;km of [[motorway]]s, [[limited-access road|expressway]]s and similar roads have been completed, easing automotive transport across the country and providing a strong road service between eastern and western Europe. This has provided a boost to the national economy, encouraging the development of transportation and export industries.

There are two types of highways in Slovenia. ''Avtocesta'' (abbr. AC) are dual carriage way motorways with a [[speed limit]] of 130&nbsp;km/h. They have green road signs as in Italy, Croatia and other countries. A ''hitra cesta'' (HC) is a secondary road also a dual carriageway but without a hard shoulder for emergencies. They have a speed limit of 110&nbsp;km/h and have blue road signs.

Since 1 June 2008 highway users in Slovenia have been required to buy a [[vignette (road tax)|toll sticker]] ({{langx|sl|vinjeta}}). This system was investigated by the [[European Commission]] that it was unfair upon holiday makers and other non Slovenian users of the highway system. On 28 January 2010, after short-term stickers were introduced by Slovenia and some other changes were made to the Slovenian toll sticker system, the European Commission concluded that the toll sticker system is in accordance with [[Law of the European Union|European law]].<ref>{{cite web  |url=http://www.sta.si/en/vest.php?id=1474765 |title=Brussels Stops Proceedings over Vignettes |publisher=[[Slovenian Press Agency|STA]]  |date=29 January 2010}}</ref>

According to the Slovenian Motorway Company Act valid since December 2010, the construction and building of highways in Slovenia is carried out and financed by private companies, primarily the [[Motorway Company in the Republic of Slovenia]] (Slovene: {{lang|sl|Družba za avtoceste v Republiki Sloveniji}}, acronym ''DARS''), while the strategic planning and the acquisition of land for their course is carried out and financed by the [[Government of Slovenia]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sta.si/vest.php?s=a&t=1&id=1578334 |title=Parliament Passes Motorway Company Act |date=23 November 2010 |access-date=19 January 2011 |publisher=Slovene Press Agency |archive-date=4 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104062425/http://www.sta.si/vest.php?s=a&t=1&id=1578334 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.finance.si/295626/DZ-pri%BEgal-zeleno-lu%E8-300-milijonskemu-poro%B9tvu-za-Dars |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801052655/http://www.finance.si/295626/DZ-pri%BEgal-zeleno-lu%E8-300-milijonskemu-poro%B9tvu-za-Dars |archive-date=1 August 2012 |title=Državni zbor prižgal zeleno luč 300-milijonskemu poroštvu za Dars |trans-title=The National Assembly Has Given Free Way to the 300-Million Guarantee for DARS |language=sl |date=23 November 2010 |access-date=19 January 2011 }}</ref> The highways are owned by DARS.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.uradni-list.si/1/content?id=101016 |title=Zakon o Družbi za avtoceste v Republiki Sloveniji |language=sl |trans-title=Motorway Company in the Republic of Slovenia Act |date=3 December 2010 |access-date=19 January 2011 |publisher=Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia}}</ref>

===Bus transport===
The beginnings of the bus transport in Slovenia date back to the early 20th century, when Slovenia was part of [[Austria-Hungary]]. The first two bus routes, between [[Gorizia]] and [[Postojna]] and between [[Idrija]] and [[Logatec]], were opened in 1912, with additional four opened before World War I. The length of bus lines was {{convert|295|km|abbr=on}}. The transport was primarily organised by the Post Directorate of Austria. After the war, the transport was organised by the Post Directorate of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, gradually joined by private operators. The buses, primarily manufactured by [[Saurer]], [[Benz Söhne|Benz]], and [[Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft|Daimler]], were small and could accept six to ten passengers. The total length of bus lines at the end of the mid-war period was {{convert|2893|km|abbr=on}}.<ref name="IB">{{cite web |url=http://www.integral-brebus.si/zgodovina |title=Zgodovina podjetja |language=sl |trans-title=History of the Company |publisher=Integral Brežice |access-date=23 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202133001/http://www.integral-brebus.si/zgodovina |archive-date=2 February 2014 }}</ref><ref name="Pelc">{{cite book |url=http://fl.uni-mb.si/attachments/140_Ucbenik_PG%20UNI_09.pdf |title=Izbrana poglavja iz prometne geografije: univerzitetni učbenik |language=sl |trans-title=Selected Chapters from the Geography of Transport: University Textbook |first=Stanko |last=Pelc |year=2010 |isbn=978-961-6562-36-2 |publisher=Faculty of Logistics, University of Maribor |access-date=23 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202094252/http://fl.uni-mb.si/attachments/140_Ucbenik_PG%20UNI_09.pdf |archive-date=2 February 2014 }}</ref>

After the end of World War II the bus traffic drastically developed. In 1946 the state ministry of local transport in the [[People's Republic of Slovenia]] established the [[National Bus and Transport Company of Slovenia]] ({{lang|sl|Državno avtobusno in prevozniško podjetje Slovenije}}, ''DAPPS''). In 1948 the company was reorganised to another company named ''[[Slovenija avtopromet]]'' (''SAP'') with branches across the country, some of which were later transformed to independent local bus operators.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dlib.si/details/URN:NBN:SI:DOC-TQ9BE88E |title=SAP – 30-letnik |language=sl |trans-title=SAP: The 30 Year Old |year=1975 |newspaper=Naša skupnost |volume=16 |issue=10 |publisher=Skupščina občine Ljubljana Moste-Polje |access-date=23 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203214934/http://www.dlib.si/details/URN:NBN:SI:DOC-TQ9BE88E |archive-date=3 February 2014 }}</ref> The bus transport gradually replaced the railway transport and became the predominant means of public transport in the 1960s. The bus lines reached over {{convert|20000|km|abbr=on}} (1&nbsp;km/km<sup>2</sup>), with 26 million passengers altogether.<ref name="Pelc" />

Today the bus traffic is the main means of public passenger transport in Slovenia, particularly in towns. The main bus stations are in [[Ljubljana]], [[Maribor]], [[Celje]], and [[Kranj]]. The bus transport and the public transport in general have steeply declined in Slovenia in the 1990s, particularly in the western part of the country. They are used mainly by people who have no other option; most people travel with their own car.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NoZUwuFSmnMC&q=dnevna+mobilnost+v+sloveniji |title=Dnevna mobilnost v Sloveniji |language=sl |trans-title=Daily Mobility in Slovenia |first1=Matej |last1=Gabrovec |first2=David |last2=Bole |year=2009 |publisher=Založba ZRC |isbn=978-961-254-118-7}}</ref>