On April 15th at Bon Vivant Pasaport in Izmir, as Tripy, we took an important step that will shape the future of cycling in the corporate world! We came together to transform the role of cycling in urban life and to make institutions a part of this transformation.
In the first part of the day, Light Eagle AG Founder and triathlete Onur Eren inspired us with his keynote titled “My Life with Bicycle”. Sharing excerpts from his own life story, he shared his observations on how cities can be transformed by bicycles in a sincere way. He started his speech by saying “I am here to give back to the bicycle what the bicycle gave me”, emphasized the important place of the bicycle in his life and shared an emotional moment with us by saying “No one has ever asked me to talk about the bicycle, thank you…”. He thanked Tripy and said “Thank you for bringing 2000 bicycles to Izmir”.
The Sustainable Mobility Panel was moderated by Fark Labs Chief Growth & Opportunity Officer Selcen Uyguntüzel. The panelists emphasized that cycling is not only a means of transportation, but also how it transforms urban culture and contributes to a more sustainable future. IZTECH Rector Prof. Dr. Yusuf Baran shared his experiences in the field of sustainability with us. “Even a small candle that is not good for itself can illuminate the darkness,” he said, explaining the effect of small steps, and shared his family’s concern about the use of bicycles after an accident in his childhood and the bond he established with bicycles. Ahu Serter, Founder of Arya and Fark Labs, talked about her long-term bond with bicycles and the power of bicycles to unite societies. Stating that she believes that the bicycle is a real competitor against automobiles, Serter shaped her investments in micromobility with this belief. She emphasized that she strongly supports Tripy’s structure that revitalizes this culture. Cevher Group CEO Oğuz Özmen talked about how he won his first bicycle and how the importance of bicycles in the corporate world has increased with Tripy’s corporate membership. He also emphasized the contribution of the opportunities offered by companies to their employees to the city culture.
At the end of the day, Tripy CEO Ali Onuralp Ünal shared how Amsterdam transformed into a bicycle-friendly city with public demand and how this transformation will be realized with the Tripy Corporate Membership Model. He mentioned that both individuals and cities will benefit from this model, which encourages the use of bicycles by crediting companies’ employees. Ünal invited Izmir institutions to be a part of this transformation and the excitement in the hall increased.
The event ended with a mass bike ride in Kordon. While the participants explored the city on electric bicycles, those who experienced this experience for the first time enjoyed pedaling by bicycle. They rediscovered both their childhood memories and their longing for cycling.
