ETI, one of Turkey's largest confectioanary makers, and Active Life Association started a project called "Yellow Bicycle Project" in Eskişehir to raise awareness about the necessity of exercising for healthy living and to encourage cycling. In the scope of the project, students will be taught how to cycle at school and free bicycle stands will be installed on campuses. Moreover, housewives will be encouraged to cycle in district bazaars.
The project will be implemented in a different city every year. Chairman of ETİ Executive Board Hakan Polatoğlu and Founding Member of Active Life Association Mehmet Ali Çalışkan announced the details and targets of the Yellow Bicycle Project in a press conference. "As ETİ, we show ultimate attention to provide benefits for every segment of the society with long lasting and sustainable projects. Today, we are starting a new project that will help solve a significant problem of the society. The motto of our project is 'exercising for health, cycling to exercise.' We aim to raise awareness about exercising for healthy living," stated Polatoğlu. Polatoğlu said the starting point of the project was physical inactivity which is becoming a serious problem at home and abroad, adding "One of the biggest problems of parents is children who spend hours in front of computers and TV sets without leaving the home.
Unfortunately, children do not exercise. Thanks to the Yellow Bicycle Project, our aim is to introduce cycling to more people, which is one of the most entertaining and healthy activities. Within three years, we will give 'safe cycling training' to 20,000 children with theoretical and practical training that will last five days in a predetermined school. In Eskişehir, training is provided in physical education classes with the help of training tracks that we built in school gardens."
Polatoğlu stated that the project involved university students and added "The project is implemented at predetermined universities in the selected cities. Stands will be installed and students can hire bicycles free-of-charge.
Thus, transportation on the campus will be easier and more students will have a chance to exercise. Initially, the project was applied at Osmangazi University. Anadolu University will be next in the new academic year. We aim to reach 25,000 university students by the end of three years."
Polatoğlu also noted that women would be one of the most important actors in the project. "We planned a project to encourage especially housewives to cycle more. In our district bazaar project, women can do their shopping with tricycles. Instead of carrying shopping bags in their hands, they can place them in their tricycle baskets.
Founding Member of Active Life Association Mehmet Ali Çalışkan pointed out the inactivity in everyday life around the world, adding that "As ETİ and Active Life Association, we are taking action to strengthen the place of bicycles in the lives of children, housewives, university students and adults."
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