This Wednesday, June 19th, the bicycle was the star. The bike festival captivated more than one person into the world of two-wheelers in the Ariane district.
The bicycle was in the spotlight for the Bike Festival in Ariane. Families were welcome to join in several fun activities organized by associations.
STOP signs, no entry, and give way signs lent by road safety authorities were placed in front of the Léonard De Vinci Library. Ten bicycles and a track were made available for the young ones.
For the more courageous, there was a unicycle workshop led by Antoine Albert from the Cycl’hop association. The saddle at navel height, one foot on the pedal on the ground, and all it takes is to launch… well, almost! Balance and core strength are recommended, but the children are fearless and ready for the adventure.
Teaching the Highway Code to Children
Convinced that he can bring about change through sharing days like this, Gilles Bogaert, a member of the Nice à Vélo association, points out a phenomenon: “In the city, there is no room for cyclists.” Thus, he wishes to encourage families to take to two wheels.
“People want to cycle, there are bikes everywhere on the balconies,” he says, pointing to the buildings. However, often city infrastructure does not provide enough safety for cyclists. As a result, they hesitate to use it as a mode of transportation.
With this track that he has tested and approved, he aims to teach the highway code to children. He explains the signs that illustrate different road situations and the main rule: “Pedestrians have the right of way.”
In addition to being educational, this moment is also enjoyable for regular cyclists who come to have fun. Thouraya and her three daughters share a special family moment. Confident, her children launch themselves on the cycling track after receiving an explanation of the traffic signs. Their mother is not worried: “They already know them, I teach them the traffic rules.”
In a realistic setting, children learn to respect the highway code, which is not always known at their young age. Enthusiastically, some get into the game and allow themselves to be guided. Gilles even hopes to create a “cycling community” in this neighborhood.
“Cycling is Freedom”
According to him, cycling offers many benefits, starting with health. Indeed, engaging in regular physical activity is beneficial for the heart and mind: “It’s good for morale,” he explains.
The more, the merrier. Therefore, he invites everyone to try cycling, partly to reduce city pollution, but also because “it’s fast, there’s no schedule, no parking issues. Cycling is freedom.”
Other activities showcasing cycling were offered: a drawing workshop with the artist Coun, a photographic exhibition on Women on Bikes. Additionally, at the Recyclerie: bike repair workshops and upcycling workshops. At Tilt: 3D printing workshops, and at the CCAS, a drawing workshop was held.
