Shimano Awards Bicycle Practice Course in Córdoba

NUNSPEET, Netherlands (February 18) - The Shimano Cycling Concept Award 2005 has been won by the organisers of a bicycle practice course for adults in Córdoba, Spain. The Plataforma Carril-Bici de Córdoba (Bicycle Lane Promotion Platform) will receive the price money of 12.500 EURO that will allow them to carry out 10 bicycle practice courses, each containing 8 lessons. The courses will be attended by adults who do not know how or do not have the courage to ride a bicycle in the city. Gerhard Bort, co-ordinator of this bicycle promotion project: "The traffic and parking problems arising in our cities are mostly caused by the excessive use of private cars. We believe that it is necessary to promote other travel methods such as the bicycle, which is an ideal method of getting around in Córdoba, a flat, compact city with a perfect climate for using the bicycle." Bort continues: "The bicycle lane network in this city is one of the best in Spain and people are increasingly being encouraged to ride their bicycles in the relatively safe lanes. But those of us in the Bicycle-Lane Promotion Platform realized that a large part of the adult population, especially the women, do not feel confident to use a bicycle in the city. For that reason, our association felt the need to offer a course so that they will learn how to ride a bicycle and become more confident using it. "Each course is organized in 8 consecutive lessons of two to four hours each. In these lessons, the teachers will propose different kind of exercises to help them keep the balance, give them confidence and loose their fear of the bicycle. The courses will be held in the Traffic Education Centre of Cordoba and they will start in May 2005. Gerhard Bort: "We would like to thank Shimano for offering us the opportunity to carry out our plans. This means an important step for us in the promotion of bicycle use in Córdoba." The Shimano Cycling Concept Award (SCCA) is an annual award for the best idea to promote bicycle usage in Europe. The SCCA jury consists of three editors from cycling trade publications: Jack Oortwijn (Bike Europe), Carlton Reid (Bicycle Business) and Michael Bollschweiler (Radmarkt), completed by Frank Peiffer, Commercial Director of Shimano Europe. The jury would like to thank also the other participants for their stimulating ideas and wishes them good luck by carrying out their plans.