When a group of friends established Vélorution Tunisie three springs ago, Tunis’ long list of transport failures loomed over them. “Moving around the city should not be a daily challenge, or even torture,” said Stephanie Pouessel, a founding member of Vélorution Tunisie. “But we Tunisians are overwhelmed by traffic jams, with their noise and harmful pollution.”

Science backs up these observations — decades of rapid urbanization has increased traffic congestion across Tunisia’s major cities, spewing unsustainable amounts of gas pollutants into the air. This destructive trend will continue until urban Tunisians have a viable alternative to car travel. 

Vélorution Tunisie protested Tunis’ woeful infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians by holding monthly Critical Mass demonstrations. During these events, large groups of cyclists ride down a city’s main streets together, providing each other with “safety in numbers” from cars and other motorized vehicles. 

Pouessel was pleasantly surprised by the public’s reaction to Tunisia’s first Critical Mass rallies. “As soon as we launched the movement, literally hundreds and hundreds of Tunisians joined us,” she remembered proudly. “It was truly amazing!”

Since then, Vélorution Tunisie has channelled this excitement into a dizzying array of projects that promote cycling. A “bike school” opened up, which has already taught more than 500 Tunisians how to ride bicycles. Dar El Bisklette provides a headquarters for Tunis’ cyclists to meet up, store their bikes, and get running repairs.

Several initiatives directly involve public authorities, to ensure that Vélorution Tunisie’s activities have a lasting impact. The team is working with l’Ariana municipality to design a 2.5 kilometer bicycle path around the Tunis neighborhood. Volunteers are also running outreach programs in high schools across the country, showing young Tunisians how to ride — and why riding is a good idea. 

For its large-scale projects, Vélorution Tunisie has received funding from UNDP, the Institut Français de Tunis, the Goethe Institut, and the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. The team already generates income from bicycle tours and riding lessons, while other business ventures for Vélorution Tunisie remain in the pipeline for now. All profits, of course, are re-invested into the group’s cycling advocacy projects.

Financial gain does not enter the equation for the passionate members of Vélorution Tunisie. According to Pouessel, the greatest reward is witnessing how cycling can expand people’s range of possibilities. With support from Vélorution Tunisie, a group of disadvantaged youth have adopted a “cycling way of life,” offering cycling and road safety lessons. Increasing numbers of women can now avoid harassment on public transport by traveling around on two wheels.

For many others, an introduction to cycling may not be quite so transformative, but it is incredibly satisfying nonetheless. Remarked Pouessel: “One of the things that we have learned is that riding a bike is still an unfulfilled childhood dream for so many people in Tunisia.”

Learn more about Vélorution Tunisie through the website, Facebook and Instagram.

Photos courtesy of Vélorution Tunisie