As part of the new action called GO GREEN, organized by the Environmental Working Group (EnWG), several locals all over Europe took part in the AEGEE Bike Week. The AEGEEan spoke to Elise Bessieres (AEGEE-Brussel/Bruxelles), HR responsible of the EnWG and therefore one of the initiators of the Bike Week, to find out more about the story behind this event and the specific actions performed by the antennae.

The main goal was easy: to raise awareness of sustainable methods of urban transportation. And, in the best case, to combine it with sports and fun for the locals, of course. Instead of giving long speeches about the disadvantages of travelling by car, AEGEEans were therefore asked by the EnWG to set a good example and hop on their bikes.

The time frame was set for the end of June, a month in which the focus within GO GREEN was set on green transportation anyway. It fitted perfectly, being “an easy and fun activity during summer, where a lot of people are outside and travel”, Elise tells us. To activate more members, especially taking into consideration that June is quite often in the middle of the exams period, the AEGEE Bike Week actually lasted for two week, giving the locals more time to organize their activities.

In general, the locals were quite free in their choices concerning what exactly they were going to organize. Ideas given by the EnWG ranged from smaller events just for the members of the locals to bigger events that might even involve the public. Encouraging members to use their bikes to go to university, bike trips to nice landscapes, exchanges with other antennae by bicycle or “free rent AEGEE bikes”, meaning that locals offer people the possibility to rent their bikes for free instead of driving, were just some of the inspirations given by the EnWG. As long as the events centered around this sustainable method of traveling, everything was allowed and new ideas were welcome!

In the end, many locals indeed became quite creative. For instance, AEGEE-Kastoria co-organized a bicycle trip around lake Orestiada on 15th of June together with other voluntary groups to raise awareness of violence against women. Many other locals arranged trips with their members and a lot of pictures of cycling AEGEEans popped up on social media within the last weeks. The precise number of participating antennae is not known, but every single event surely earns the Network’s respect.

All in all, the AEGEE Bike Week was quite a success, Elise tells us. “Especially because we organized a picture competition. It was a nice way to also promote the locals who participated as we posted their pictures on Facebook”. These photos are the best proof to show that promoting a sustainable way of transportation does not have to be boring, but can offer lots of fun.

It is not definite yet if the AEGEE Bike Week will become an annual event, but Elise assures us that the current board of the EnWG will definitely suggest the idea to renew the event during every summer to the next board.

Written by Katja Sontag, AEGEE-Aachen

The locals that cooperated: AEGEE-Bakı, AEGEE-Bologna, AEGEE-Gdansk, AEGEE-Gliwice, AEGEE-Kastoria

A few months ago, the Environmental Working Group (EnWG) launched their new action, called GO GREEN, with asking for environmental issues as its main goal. To do this, the EnWG organises a social Skype meeting about a determined theme. In the meeting they share advices and ideas, which locals can use to organise their own workshops, discussions or seminars or any other activity fitting with the monthly topic. The AEGEEan talked to Dasha Onohova (PR Responsible) to find out more.

For the months May & June the working group wants to focus on the topic of ‘Green Transportation’, so they launched the idea of a Bike Week. “Sustainable transport options make a positive contribution to the environmental, social and economic sustainability of the communities they serve”, Dasha says. “The most pleasant and healthy way of green transportation is actually bicycling!” For this reason, all AEGEEans are encouraged to go to work or university by bicycle instead of bus, car or train from the 16^th until the 30^th of June.

“It’s a fun activity for a social members meeting, that will also help out the environment”, Dasha points out. “Getting together and advertising your antenna with your flag and/or mascot in the streets sounds like a good time to us!” To join in on the good time, locals are encouraged to follow the example of AEGEE-Kyiv and AEGEE-Voronezh by organising a bike tour in their city. The working group has created posters and badges for those who want to join and let the rest know too, which can be found here. Pictures you take during the event can be shared with the EnWG by sending them an e-mail with two or three pictures!

For the locals who want to do more to contribute to a greener world, the EnWG has thought of more ideas to do in June: showing members what blablacar and carpooling are about, organising a hitchhike competition, doing a treasure hunt in public transport or watching a video on green transport together. “We want to encourage AEGEE members from all over the Network to go green”, Dasha says. “A greener you, is a greener world!”

Written by Svenja van der Tol, AEGEE-Nijmegen