As society evolves, so does the urgent need to create opportunities for all segments and age groups to access tools, methodologies, and solutions that make their individual and collective lives more sustainable, leaving a progressively smaller ecological footprint.

On this International Bicycle Day, we highlight two projects from Casa do Impacto that demonstrate how this ancient vehicle continues to pave the way for the future, from Childhood to Seniority.

 

 

> CICLO EXPRESSO | BICICULTURA + SEMPRE A RODAR:

“In our work at the Bicicultura cooperative, impact projects focusing on bicycle use are two sides of the same coin. In the entrepreneurial dynamics we participate in, we often hear that we should focus on the problem and not the solution.

Our “difficulty” stems from the fact that promoting the bicycle as a form of mobility is unequivocally a potent solution addressing several problems simultaneously.

Regarding the transport sector—which accounts for about a third of greenhouse gas emissions and shows no trend of reduction—the transition from private car use to bicycles is an unavoidable solution. This, while also providing extraordinary public health benefits by reducing sedentariness, improving cardiovascular condition, and preventing various types of cancer and depression, estimated in the EU to be worth €64 for every 100 kilometers cycled. Add to this the reduction in noise and congestion, the reallocation of public space for us to enjoy—since automobile mobility currently occupies a significant portion for flow and parking—the reduction in road accidents, and the increase in local commerce. All this alongside promoting a form of travel that makes us smile and encourages social interactions: recent studies even correlate bicycle use with greater orientation towards the common good through political and social participation, solidarity, and mutual help among neighbors.

Starting from the common ground that increasing bicycle use for mobility is highly desirable, we redirect our attention to a more specific approach: what are the conditioning factors for getting more people to pedal more often, and how can we unlock them? Besides safe and comfortable infrastructure, we need to help create references for the use of this mode of transport and facilitate its adoption processes. In this regard, we help children get to school by bicycle through the CicloExpresso bike trains, remove barriers to exchanging bicycles as children grow through Sempre a Rodar—promoting, along the way, values of sustainability and circular economy—and help educators take entire preschool classes to parks and other leisure places using the Cresc(h)e na Rua pedicabs! We promote the experimentation of cargo bikes, which are more expensive and unknown, through our Veloteca—which can even travel to other cities through the Roadshow—and organize a myriad of cultural events where we directly or implicitly address the solutions the world has already discovered to get us cycling more.

In other countries where it rains much more than in Portugal, there are dozens of times more commuting trips made by bicycle. We just need to replicate it!”

 

Luís Vieira – Co-Founder of “Sempre a Rodar”

 

 

> PEDALAR SEM IDADE PORTUGAL:

A trishaw is a bicycle for all ages.

“Right to feel the wind in your hair” is the motto of this movement, but it’s much more than that. It’s about the right to belong and to continue accessing life’s simple pleasures, like riding a bicycle. Aging brings losses, but we can minimize some with simple and sustainable solutions like these trishaw rides. They promote social interaction between younger volunteers and passengers who are 80, 90, or even older. Is there anything better than being chauffeured on a bicycle on your 100th birthday, and having your children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren waiting to celebrate in a garden?

These rides create relationships, share life stories, value those who have given so much to others, and, above all, combat loneliness and social isolation. The impact of this proposal is felt not only by the beneficiaries. Integrating trishaw rides into the local community strengthens social bonds and promotes a sense of belonging. Seeing a trishaw pass by with happy seniors and a smiling volunteer makes community members more aware of others’ needs, encouraging more empathetic and supportive behavior.

For volunteers, the immediate return on their action is evident. As soon as the trishaw starts moving, they immediately realize they are making a difference in someone’s life, complemented by physical exercise.

The environmental contributions are also visible: the use of trishaws as a means of gentle mobility reduces dependence on motor vehicles, decreases gas emissions, and reduces noise pollution. Promoting the use of these vehicles can inspire broader changes in urban transport practices, encouraging sustainable mobility policies.

The sustainability and expansion of the association depend on a funding model supported by the Ageas Foundation through Impact Investment.

Pedalar Sem Idade Portugal is a legally constituted non-profit association established in 2018, part of an international movement combating unwanted loneliness and social isolation through regular trishaw (adapted bicycles) rides conducted by trained volunteer pilots. Founded in 2012 in Copenhagen by Ole Kassow, Cycling Without Age is now present in 59 countries, with more than 3500 trishaws and about 35,000 volunteers involved, giving rides to 1/5 million seniors.

This movement is not just about bicycles, mobility, or sustainability. It’s an innovative approach to volunteering, focusing on human relationships, generosity, doing things slowly and with purpose, and on the stories that inspire us. It’s a simple act of generosity that aims to reintegrate hundreds of people into society. On Bicycle Day and every day of the year!”

 

Margarida Guedes de Quinhones – Executive Director of “Pedalar Sem Idade Portugal”

 

 

These are some Impact Entrepreneurship projects that transcend the traditional definition of the bicycle as a means of transportation and contribute to establishing its status as a vehicle of Impact. Not only do they present the bicycle as an ecological resource for a market increasingly in need of green solutions, but they also help build consumption habits that promote Environmental, Social, and Economic Sustainability.

Happy International Bicycle Day!

Do you want to be up to date with all the news from Casa do Impacto, including our monthly program of events? Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media – Facebook, Instagram,Twitter and Linkedin.