GZM Metropolis
Efforts to create a metropolis in the centre of the Silesian Voivodeship took as long as 20 years. The establishment of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union, that included 14 of the largest cities in Silesia, in 2006 was an important step in this direction. In 2018, a law was signed which established the Upper Silesian and Zagłębie (GZM) Metropolis. It was divided into five sub-regions: bytomski, gliwicki, katowicki, sosnowiecki and tyski. Katowice became the seat of the GMZ authorities.
The Upper Silesian and Zagłębie Metropolis is made up of 41 cities and municipalities with a total area of 2,500 km2, 2.3 million inhabitants and 240,000 companies and businesses.
The GZM is above all well-organised public transport, i.e.:
- a common train, bus and tram ticket,
- convenient connections, thanks to which one can get to almost any place in the agglomeration,
- a bus connection with the nearest airport – Katowice-Pyrzowice,
- development of cycling infrastructure,
- development of modern railways.
Metrobike
The Metrobike system operates within the metropolis, which allows people with medium- or long-term tickets within the GZM Transport to rent city bikes for free (up to 60 minutes per day). Since August 2024, Metrorower has been operating in 31 municipalities of the GZM Metropolis. Residents have access to 7,000 bikes and 924 stations, which officially makes it the third largest system of this type in Europe. Importantly, the characteristic yellow bikes are equipped with electric mid-drive.
More information on the TRANSPORT GZM portal.
