Bicycle is an Efficient Transportation Vehicle: Workshop Bursa

Bicycle is an Efficient Transportation Vehicle: Workshop Bursa was held between 26 September – 1 October 2016 in Bursa, by the cooperation of Turkish Healthy Cities Association, Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, Uludağ University, Bursa Technical University, Bursa Bicycle and Nature Lovers Association (BUBİDOSD), Association for the Protection of Energy Efficiency and Environment (ENVERÇEVKO), EuroVelo (The European Cycle Route Network), ECF (European Cyclists’ Federation). The representatives of 30 municipalities, officials of Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, representatives of Bursa sub-provincial municipalities, academicians and representatives of national and international bicycle associations participated in the workshop that lasted for 5 days.

Erdem SAKER, the former Mayor of Bursa Metropolitan Municipality and the Member of the Advisory Board of Turkish Healthy Cities Association, and Recep ALTEPE, the Mayor of Bursa Metropolitan Municipality and the Chief of Turkish Healthy Cities Association made the opening speeches.

In the opening speeches, giving examples from other countries, Erdem SAKER stated that the use of bicycle should be considered as an efficient transportation vehicle now.

Stating that local administrations assume significant roles on the popularization of the use of bicycle in his opening speech, Recep ALTEPE, the Mayor of Bursa Metropolitan Municipality and the Chief of Turkish Healthy Cities Association gave the good news of the velodromethat will be built in Bursa.

Following the opening speeches, Wiebke UNBEHAUN, from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Institute of Transportation Studies made her presentation of the project “Active City Transportation SWITCH”; and Feridun EKMEKÇİ, the coordinator of ENVERÇEVKO – National NowWeMove, his presentation titled as International Campaigns, NowWeBike, Eurovelo, BYPAD in the first session titled as Active City Transportation and International Campaigns held by the moderation of  Murat AR, the Director of Turkish Healthy Cities Association.

Following the first session, a city tour was made by bicycles in Uludağ University, Görükle and Altınşehir with the participants.

On the second day of the workshop, the first session was made under the title of Active Cities, Intersectoral Cooperation for Active Cities and Bicycle Culture with the moderation of Nalan FİDAN, the Head, Enviromental Protection and Control Department of Bursa Metropolitan Municipality and the Project Coordinator of Turkish Healthy Cities Association. Selahattin DİNÇ, the Branch Manager of Transportation Coordination of Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, made his presentation on the subject of “Studies regarding the Bicycle Roads in Bursa, and Their Use”;Saska BENEDICIC TOMAT, ISCA Projects Manager, on the subject of “A tool for Active and Open cities”; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Michael MESCHİK, the Head of Institute for Transportation Studies of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, his presentation titled as “Cycling – Arguments for Society”.

In the session titled as “Bicycle as an Environment Friendly Transportation Vehicle, and Cycling Tourism Network: EuroVelo” held by the moderation of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gül ATANUR, Bursa Technical University,Faculty of Landscape, Architecture and EngineeringFaculty Member, and Uludağ University, Faculty of Urban and Regional Planning Faculty Member, and the Member of the Advisory Board of Turkish Healthy Cities Association following the first session,Assoc. Prof. Dr.Kevser ÜSTÜNDAĞ, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Faculty of Architecture, Departmentof Urban and Regional Planning, made her presentation on the subject of “Bicycle within the Scope of Organic Transportation”; Jesus Miguel Freire VALDERAMA, from the Project Unit of EuroVelo, on the subject of “Economic Effect of EuroVelo and Cycling Tourism: An Opportunity for Turkey”; Dr. Özlem TAŞKIN ERTEN, from İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Department of Transportation Planning Branch Directorate, Chief of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation, on the subject of “Accession Period of İzmir into EuroVelo Bicycle Tourism Network”.

Following the performances of the presentations, the program of the second day was concluded by the city tour at Karagöz Museum, Muradiye Complex, Ulucami Mosque, Tophane and Hanlar Region. Within the scope of the workshop, the first session on the third day was held by the moderation of Assoc. Prof.Dr. Alpaslan TÜRKKAN, Uludağ University, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty Member of Department of Public Health and the Member of the Advisory Board of Turkish Healthy Cities Association, presentations were made under the title of “Cycling Cities and Bicycle Wanderers”; by Mustafa ARSLAN, Konya Metropolitan Municipality Road Construction Department Manager, under the title of “Bicycle Use in Konya and Bicycle Roads”, by Adnan ÇANGIR, the Member of Board of ENVERCEVKO, and the National MoveWeek Coordinator under the title of “Creating Cycling Cities”; by Soner SARIHAN, from İznik Water Sports Search and Rescue, Environment Bicycle Association (İZDAK), under the title of “Around the World by Bicycle”.

Following the recess, the final session of the workshop was held by the moderation of Murat AR, the Director of the Association of Healthy Cities, under the title of “Examples of Practices of the Member Municipalities of Turkish Association of Healthy Cities”, presentations were made by Prof.Dr. Gülten SÖNMEZ SEBER, the Member of Odunpazarı Municipal Council, under the title of “Where it Started and Where it Goes on Bicycle Use: Example of Eskişehir”; by Koray Doğan URBARLI, the Coordinator of the Directorate of Çankaya Municipality Foreign Affairs, on the subject of “Struggle with Climate Change: City and Bicycle”; by Mert YAMAN, Kadıköy Municipality Transportation Unit Supervisor, under the title of “Bicycle as a Healthy Alternative in Urban Transportation: Example of Kadıköy”. The closing speech of the workshop was made by Faruk SÜKAN, born in 1927, retired physical education teacher who travelled 12 countries in Europe and climbed all high mountains of Turkey by bicycle.

Following the final session, bicycle tours were held at Botanic Park and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Boulevard.

The last day of the workshop was reserved for a full-day bicycle tour. The participants travelled to Arkeopark and Gölyazı by their bicycles.

In addition, in the week of the workshop, the elementary school students of Altınşehir Region were organized to travel to their schools by bicycles by the support of the volunteers of Bursa Bicycle and Nature Lovers Association (BUBİDOSD) and Uludağ University Cycling Team (ULUBİS).

The students travelling to their schools for one week were awarded by the volunteer cyclists with certificates of achievement due to their contributions.