The bicycle knows no age or place!

The BICIMUGI project brings together entities from Navarra in Spain and the Pyrénées-Atlantiques in France, with the participation of the European Cyclists’ Federation for its expertise in cycling mobility and tourism in Europe. The main goal of this project is to improve environmentally friendly transport systems to encourage sustainable mobility in rural areas, through the creation of connections between rural villages and EuroVelo 3 – Pilgrims Route in the project’s zone. BICIMUGI additionally focuses on pedagogic and consciousness-raising activities with the rural population.

From November 2021 until May 2022, EuroVelo 3 – Pilgrims Route becomes the stage for a series of awareness-raising activities aimed primarily at elderly people, people with disabilities, schoolchildren and women. The workshops are being organised by the Lursarea Sustainability Agency, part of the state-owned company Nasuvinsa, the company Garrapo and the association Corella Cyclists. The scope of this programme encompasses the Navarra municipalities of less than 15,000 inhabitants from Aezkoa to Viana, being crossed by EuroVelo 3 – Pilgrims Route.

The awareness-raising programme started on 13 November 2021 with a workshop called “On a bike without age” (En Bici Sin Edad). It was held in Burguete and Aoiz, two municipalities in Navarra. The participants, in addition to learning about the BICIMUGI project, were invited to share their own stories on wheels and had the opportunity to enjoy a different kind of ride thanks to the "Yayacleta" adapted bike, an electric tricycle that can be used by elderly and disabled people. The Yayacleta will serve to organise rides on EuroVelo 3 – Pilgrims Route with the help of volunteers.

Other workshops are aimed at promoting the use of the bicycle in rural and mountainous areas. They tend to be very practical, to familiarise participants with the bicycle, helping them to gain in confidence and dexterity as well as to learn some basic bike mechanics skills. These workshops also focus on transmitting knowledge about the benefits of bicycle use for physical and mental health and for the environment. Finally, the programme will offer the opportunity for participants to take part in cycling trips organised along EuroVelo 3 – Pilgrims Route through Navarra, on sections of the route which are well adapted to the participants’ needs.

EuroVelo routes are not only for experienced cycle tourists and daily cyclists; in places where they are well-developed, with safe and engaging cycling infrastructure, they can also be used to encourage other sections of the population to give the bike a try. The awareness-raising activities organised in Navarra are a source of inspiration and can easily be reproduced in other rural and mountainous areas across Europe.

For more information, take a look at the BICIMUGI website

Cover picture credits: © Biciclistas de Corella