Bisidestek Is Pedalling For Izmir Residents Who Can’t Get Out

Volunteer cyclists took action in Izmir to meet the needs of people over 65 years old as well as people with disabilities and people with other special needs, such as daily market shopping and medical supplies. We talked to BisiKoop (Cyclists Cooperative) Chairman Ahmet Çelikörs and one of the partners of the project BISUDER (Bicycle Transportation Association) Chairman Caner Çetinkaya and to Mustafa Karakuş on behalf of BUGEP (Bicycle Transportation Development Platform).

BisiKoop, the Bicycle Cooperative located in Izmir, has mobilized the city’s official and civil institutions and volunteer cyclists with an extraordinary and fast coordination. Regarding the Covid-19 outbreak, BisiKoop has reorganized the scope of “CitiesOnBike-İzmir” Project carried out by the Support of BUGEP, BİSUDER and KARBİP and the United Nations GEF Small Support Program (SGP) as well as Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and Karşıyaka Municipality and actualized its “Bicycle-support” sub-unit, 

How did the idea of the Bicycle-support unit come about and how is the process progressing?

Ahmet Çelikörs: BisiKoop, which is the only bicycles cooperative of Turkey, carries out joint activities with the United Nations in order to develop bicycle transportation in the fight against climate change within the scope of the program titled CitiesOnBike-İzmir, which was started with the support of UNDP and GEF-SGP.

Due to the epidemic, it has been particularly emphasized that the disadvantaged groups such as elderly and disabled people should not go out, however the problem of how this social groups will meet their various needs such as grocery shopping and market activities has arisen.

Cyclists who organized as part of the CitiesOnBike-İzmir program responded to this problem quickly and developed a project named BicycleSupport under this program. BicycleSupport project aims to solve the out-of-home needs of the disadvantaged people who cannot go out of their homes, with volunteers on bicycles.

We have a mass of thousands with bicycles scattered in all districts of Izmir who follow our aforementioned institutions. By using this potential to support disadvantaged people in such a period, we envisaged that we can provide a broad social benefit by producing local, effective and fast solutions.

The subject of the project was shared on the bicycle platforms and a volunteer form (gönüllü formu) was created upon positive feedback, and volunteer applications were started to be received. A public declaration was prepared and shared with the media after 120 applications received within a period of 3 days. For the project, which attracted great interest in local and national media, an application was made to the Governorship of Izmir at the same time, the application was received positively by the Governor of Izmir and necessary guidance was made.

In the second week after the creation of the project, a guideline study (kılavuz çalışması) was conducted for volunteers and online training for volunteers have started. Studies begun rapidly together with the volunteers who completed the first training program and the legal infrastructure has been completed. Necessary equipment were determined for BicycleSupport volunteers and the procurement process has been started. Coordination of our volunteer group is provided through the communication line on Whatsapp and through the call center. 

Will your work evolve into another support activity after the outbreak ends? What are your plans for your works to be sustainable?

Having this human and volunteer resource creates perspective in a wide range of fields, such as reducing income inequality by creating different social projects and business ideas, and creating opportunities for those in need. Our mission as Bicycle Cooperative is in this direction. The BicycleSupport Project will be developed as a project with main topics such as climate change, and will be developed by communicating with relevant organizations. The concept of sustainability that evolves into an acceptable business plan can be realized by volunteers. We find it more meaningful to support this process with bicycles that are friendly to nature and to our health without consuming fossil fuels. Perceptions and life are carried to a different dimension of perception all over the world. In this dimension, we now have a chance to live a slower life in a healthy world for the good of the world and our health. Life With Bicycles should be an important factor at this stage. Our goal will be to improve it at every point.

How did the idea of BUGEP and BİSUDER which are among the partners, to participate in the project emerge, and how did the process proceed?

Caner Çetinkaya: A form was created from social media and websites to find volunteers. Information was collected on the volunteers who filled out the form concerning the places they are located, when they were available, and in what areas they could help. After the volunteer pool was created, an application was made to the İzmir Governorship to obtain the necessary permissions. We were directed to Vefa Social Support Group, which provides the organization on behalf of the governorships and district governorships. Those in need can reach us on our social media accounts. In addition, municipality and Vefa Support formation brings us together with the needy.

Mustafa Karakuş: The idea of help came when the quarantine days began. When our own relatives and elderly people could not go out, we started to help them with our bicycles. The campaign, inspired by individual aids, has turned into an aid campaign across İzmir with the project teams of BUGEP and Cyclists Cooperative.

How are the feedbacks from your volunteers on bicycles who experience the importance and necessity of solidarity one-on-one and actively participate in the studies?

Caner Çetinkaya: Although people were afraid to be out because of the virus epidemic, 50 people who completed the questionnaire soon created a volunteer pool. Volunteers are divided in two, as the ones who receive the calls and the supporters on the field with their bikes. Volunteers from different regions in İzmir serve the areas they are responsible for according to the requests. Since they comply with the rules of personal hygiene and social distancing with citizens, they carry out their supportive actions without hesitation. They say that they experience the contentment of helping those in need.

We want to support the elderly and individuals with chronic conditions who are considered to be in the high-risk group and who need to be protected from the epidemic, by pedaling to prevent the spread of the virus. More volunteers means reaching more people. They can support us by accessing our social media accounts. In addition, after the epidemic, the idea of continuing this formation and turning it into a business that attains financial gain have emerged.

Mustafa Karakuş: Volunteers are very happy that they are a part of such a movement and that they are able to contribute. We have friends from different ages and professions. All volunteers experience the pride and excitement of coming together for the same purpose. This goodness movement was thought by volunteers on bicycles to help each other in difficult times. Helping is a good feeling for both the helper and the ones who receive the help. After the quarantine days, we want to continue this project and continue to help those in need.

Coronavirus infects and spreads very fast. The virus, which is transmitted from person to person through the respiratory tract, coughing, sneezing, touching, shaking hands, kissing and hugging is an important problem in activities that involve human contact. How do voluntary cyclists continue their activities by taking which measures against contamination?

Caner Çetinkaya: Information on safety is provided to volunteers about how to establish dialogue with the needy citizens before going to field support, how to receive the shopping lists and the money, how to give the materials and money after shopping, and how to avoid physical contact and maintain social distance. Gloves, masks and disinfectants have been provided for volunteers.

Mustafa Karakuş: We have an emergency medicine specialist professor who advises our volunteer team. He teaches us what measures our team should take. In this context, the volunteers talk to the elderly 2 meters behind the house door. They use masks, gloves and disinfectants. They record the elderly person’s requests on video and get approval. They use small disinfected bags during the money exchange. After the grocery shopping, the products are placed in locked disinfected bags and sealed. The bags with the groceries are left in front of the door. The change is also given in a bag by protecting the social distance. During all these processes, “social distance” is always protected and no contact is made with the elderly.