“Cycling City“ Izmir

İzmir Metropolitan Mayor Aziz Kocaoğlu met with the representatives of the bicycle groups that brought the first place among 52 cities to İzmir in the European Bicycle Competition in İnciraltı City Forest. Listening to the demands and suggestions made to popularize the use of bicycles, Mayor Kocaoğlu said, “As the most environmentally friendly vehicle, we attach great importance to the use of bicycles in public transportation. Izmir should be a bicycle city ”he said.

Cyclists from İzmir competing on behalf of the Metropolitan Municipality in the "European Cycling Change 2017", where cities challenged each other, brought the first place to İzmir by pedaling 855 thousand kilometers for a month. İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Aziz Kocaoğlu, who came together with the representatives of the bicycle groups who contributed a lot in this championship, in İnciraltı City Forest, gave a delightful meeting on "bicycle and İzmir". sohbet made. President Kocaoğlu, who listened to the demands and suggestions of active cycling users, did not neglect to cycle on the Kent Ormanı track.

This is just the beginning
İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Aziz Kocaoğlu said “We are preparing the infrastructure necessary for you to ride more comfortable in your city. We've come to a point, but what has been done so far is just the beginning. As the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, we will continue to make cycling routes wherever appropriate. We are conducting a master plan on this. Together with this plan, we will work in many areas such as network plans for bicycle and pedestrian transportation, incentive programs. As the most environmentally friendly vehicle, we will increase the use of bicycles in public transportation. Izmir should be a bicycle city. İzmir

When the president pedals.
Speaking on behalf of the bicycle groups in Izmir, Cyclists Transportation Development Platform (BUGEP) manager Hüseyin Tekeli thanked Izmir Metropolitan Municipality for the support and ongoing cooperation. Noting that Mayor Aziz Kocaoğlu's pedaling with the district mayors during the ECC 2017 European Cycling Championship was an important motivation factor in İzmir's first place, Tekeli said, “This example is an indication that if you have your own leadership and support, there is nothing we cannot achieve in İzmir”. said. The representative of BUGEP reminded that they were fighting head to head with the Polish city of Gdansk during the competition and added that they received an official invitation as İzmir to the Active Mobility Congress to be held in Gdansk between September 22-24. Tekeli also thanked Izmir Metropolitan Municipality for its environmentalist transportation investments.
BUGEP also presented a plaque of appreciation to Mayor Aziz Kocaoğlu on behalf of bicycle groups from Izmir.

Ege Pedal, Ege University Bicycle Society, Co-Pedal, Gaziemir Active Pedal, Karşıyaka Representatives of the Bicycle Association, Pedal 35, Thursday Night Cyclists, Fancy Women and Wednesday Night Cyclists also attended.

Izmir difference in Europe
İzmir, which ranked 17th last year in the European Cycling Change, which it participated under the leadership of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, was the champion with 52 thousand kilometers among 855 cities by showing a great performance in participation for the second time this year. 4 from France, 3 from Portugal, 8 from Italy, 2 from Switzerland, 9 from Poland and Sweden, 5 from Ireland, 2 from England, 4 from Lithuania, TRNC, Croatia One city each from Hungary and Spain participated.