The Bobigny Bicycle Festival took place on 25 and 26 May on the Place de l’Hôtel de Ville in the presence of Abdel Sadi, Mayor of Bobigny. The ambition was threefold: to encourage the youngest to cycle more, but also to give them the opportunity to do so by riding bikes of their size and in good condition, all in a festive and friendly atmosphere.
These objectives were largely achieved, as more than 200 visitors of all ages spent the first day on the event co-organised with the Cyclofficine de Pantin. The highlight of the day, a second-hand bike fair allowed 40 children to acquire a bike. The expectation was high, and the bikes were sold out in less than an hour after the sale opened.
In the morning and afternoon, a workshop allowed teenagers to learn how to carry out a simple mechanical diagnosis of their bike with the “M-diagnosis” method highlighted in the mechanical training modules developed for the Re-Cycling program.
Depending on the result, the young people were then directed to the self-repair stand, where they were accompanied by a team of experienced mechanics to carry out the necessary repairs. Nearly 50 bicycles have been repaired. A DJ took care of the friendly atmosphere of the event, and the partner associations offered small catering and a thrift store allowed you to buy second-hand clothes, which could then be screen-printed with illustrations on the theme of cycling.
For adults, a small exhibition on the circular economy of bicycles allowed them to discover how the circular economy extends the life of bicycles. All the actions were offered at a free price, which made it an event accessible to all and popular. On Sunday, a visit to the Cyclofficine workshop in the mechanical gardens was organised and then a bike ride along the Canal de l’Ourcq with a picnic. The mild weather allowed the small group of young participants to go to the Parc de la Poudrerie in Sevran on second-hand bikes, which was still 30km round trip, just before a downpour marked the end of a memorable day for these teenagers.
