Thanks to the project, 700 students have improved their ability to use a bicycle
More than 700 students have received the diploma of “Environmentally Aware Urban Cyclist” in recent weeks and will be able to celebrate as protagonists there World Bicycle Day, Monday 3 June. The process that started in autumn 2023 and involved students from primary and lower secondary schools of the IC5 and IC7 comprehensive institutes was thus concluded, which aimed to improve the skills of children and young people in using bicycles and, in in some cases, teaching how to use a bicycle to those who had never done so before.
Together with the diploma of “Urban cyclist attentive to the environment”, each student was also given a copy of the “Imola Green Map”, promoted by the Municipality of Imola with the CEAS Imolese and designed by the illustrator Monica Gori, which represents all the public green areas (parks, gardens, natural reserves and new-born woods) and the cycle path network; the map is a simple, pocket-sized tool for exploring the city and discovering the richness and capillarity of the city’s cycle network and how this allows you to reach all parts of the city.
We remind you that “Let’s change course” is the project born in 2022 to promote active mobility on home-school routes, desired and implemented by the Municipality of Imola and the CEAS – Imola Sustainability Education Center in collaboration with the Comprehensive Institutes 5 and 7, Arpae – Res (Emilia Romagna Sustainability Education Network), AUSL Imola, Local Police, Giocathlon Association, Blue Area Mobility sector, Bianca Bizzi Primary Association, Ponticelli Primary Association, Orsini Association, Sante Zennaro Association and Rodari Primary Association. The initiative is part of the “Mobilityamoci 2.0” project of the Emilia Romagna Region.
During the months of the project, lessons were held aimed at developing the technical foundations for autonomous cycling on the street, working in an environment that involves irregular routes. The activity was carried out by Giocathlon instructors with 4 hours of activity for each class involved; in particular, the activities were carried out at the Primary School with the 3rd, 4th and 5th classes, and at the Secondary School with the 1st classes.
The project made it possible to develop a bicycle bus line in a stable manner, thanks to the commitment of families, and to test the feasibility of new lines. As part of the project, several bicycle rides were also held with the aim of involving families who responded with great enthusiasm and making the network of city cycle paths and the opportunities it offers more and more known.
“We strongly believe in this project which has the objective of changing habits with respect to daily travel from home to school, first and foremost, followed by all the others, and which can only be achieved by all working together – he comments Elisa SpadatoSecretary for the Environment and Sustainable Mobility of the Municipality of Imola -. The project puts schools and families at the centre, and involves all areas that are committed to health, sustainability and road safety on a daily basis. I thank all those involved and in particular the managers Rossana Neri of IC7 and Adele D’Angelo of IC5, the teachers and parents who believed in this project and worked hard to make it as successful as possible. I also thank the Giocathlon Association and all its instructors for the competence and availability they demonstrated in all the lessons and in particular towards students with fragility or disabilities who, thanks to their commitment, were able to fully enjoy this experience. The greatest joy, however, remains that of seeing the happiness in the eyes of boys and girls who, thanks to the project, have learned to ride a bicycle, which, in addition to being a sustainable means of socializing and autonomy, is an instrument of happiness”
