Cyclist meets with the European Commission during Warsaw-Paris fundraising initiative

The Roads of Masovia Foundation, a member of the European Road Safety Charter (ERSC), recently concluded an exciting and impactful fundraising initiative: the ‘Warsaw-Paris Bike Rally’. The rally, which took place in the lead-up to the 2024 Summer Olympics, was primarily a fundraising project to support children in social care, while also serving to highlight and promote the intersection of active travel, road safety, and sustainable urban mobility. 

The project founder, Adam Sobiera, successfully cycled a total of 1,850 km and raised funds to donate bicycles to children in social care in Mazovia, Poland. Sobiera’s journey began on 10 July 2024, following a route from Warsaw to Paris that spanned five countries – Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. He used international cycling routes to pass through major cities, including Poznań, Berlin, Bremen, Amsterdam, and Brussels. As he travelled through these cities, the initiative underscored the importance of urban infrastructure in improving road safety and promoting cycling as a viable mode of urban transport. 

Upon arriving in Brussels on 19 July, Adam Sobiera met with European Commission representatives Claire Depre, Head of Unit Road Safety, and Torsten Klimke, Head of Unit Innovation and Research, both from DG MOVE. The meeting took place outside DG MOVE offices, where the group stood in front of a European Cycling Declaration on Cycling poster. 

The European Declaration on Cycling recognises cycling as a sustainable, accessible, affordable, and healthy means of transport, with strong added value for the EU economy. It aims to make cycling a safer and more attractive mode of transport, contributing to sustainable urban mobility by promoting cleaner, healthier, and more efficient transport options in cities. The Declaration emphasises the need for integrated cycling networks and supportive policies to achieve these goals, aligning closely with Sobiera's focus on the benefits of active travel.

In addition to advocating for active travel and road safety, the initiative had several specific objectives, including: 

• raising  PLN 100 / EUR 25 for each kilometre travelled;
• providing 100 bicycles to Polish children in orphanages and foster care;
• encouraging bicycle tourism as a means of exploring urban and rural areas;
• promoting healthy lifestyles through active travel, particularly cycling, within cities.

Adam Sobiera successfully reached his final destination, the Olympic Stadium in Paris, on 26 July, coinciding with the launch of the 2024 Olympic Games. His journey not only highlighted the importance of road safety but also illustrated the potential of cycling to transform urban mobility and contribute to the well-being of all citizens.

For more information on this impactful project, please click here.

Author: Dearbhla Mullin

Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of the European Commission.