03/06/2026
π² World Bicycle Day. Long live the bicycle.
And it has an origin story you couldnβt make up.
π°οΈ1815. The Tambora volcano erupts. πA cloud of ash reaches Europe, crops fail, the oat harvest is lost. Horses are slaughtered en masse. A man from Mannheim devises a wooden alternative: the balance bike. Born out of necessity, as a response to a logistics system that depended on expensive, fragile fuel.
The parallel with today is striking.
But thereβs more. The modern bicycle was also a quiet revolution for womenβs emancipation.
πποΈββοΈSuddenly, women could move around independently. On two wheels.
Both stories are highly relevant today. Urban logistics breaking free from the international energy market. The empowerment of women and vulnerable groups, strengthened by⦠the bicycle.
Thatβs why we support World Bicycle Relief, an NGO that provides girls and women worldwide with sturdy bicycles. A bicycle brings freedom, mobility, access to education and healthcare, without passing the costs on to others.
Weβre joining Pedal to Empower 2026. Will you join us?. Details coming soon.
With passion, we continue to forge ahead βon two wheelsβ to make cities free, fun and fossil-fuel-free.
Cheers π₯
π΄π»ββοΈπ