64

EcoVolis - Public Bike Scheme as a Social Business

Ecovolis - Bike sharing system in Albania - posted 17 April, 2011

The Albanian capital city Tirana doesn't have much of a utility cycling culture. There has never been an official measurement of cycling's modal share in the city, but it is assumed to be insignificant. At the same time, City Hall has made efforts to accommodate cyclists on urban streets. Some of Tirana's priority bus lanes have been designated as shared bus/bike lanes, and there are other cycle routes along the Lana River, in a city park and along the city's main promenade. The city administration has an ambitious development plan for bike lanes and local NGOs are continuously lobbying for their implementation. A separate challenge in Tirana is its hard-pressed population of Roma. Although no official census data exists on their number, Roma are believed to comprise up to 5 percent of the national population, but more than that in the capital city. Roma are an economically depressed minority group, with up to 90 percent being unemployed nationwide. Their illiteracy rate is high and Roma children are often asked to work to help their families make ends meet. An NGO called Social Alternatives Incentive Programme (PASS) has initiated a project to address both of these challenges: Tirana Community Bicycle. It's main objectives are to: • introduce the community to an inexpensive, environmentally friendly form of transport – the bicycle; • sell used bikes at low prices • donate bikes to the children of needy families and to PASS volunteers; • establish a bike sharing-scheme in the city (Eco-Volis); and • employ financially disadvantaged people to operate the bike-sharing scheme |  Read more

65

EcoVolis - Implementation

Bike sharing system in Albania - posted 21 April, 2011

The Tirana Community Bicycle Albania project won financial support from the George Soros-funded Open Society Foundation Albania (OSFA). An even larger contribution came from the US-based Pedal for Progress organisation, which donated 450 bicycles. Sixty of these were used road bikes, which were modified and painted by local technicians to serve as public bikes in the Eco-Volis scheme. Another portion were set aside to donate to children and to activists and volunteers in PASS. Still another portion were diverted to the project's Eco Bicycle Shop, a social enterprise which sells bikes for USD 50-150 and reinvests profits for the service and maintenance of Eco-Volis bicycles. The Eco-Volis scheme, which is supported by Tirana City Hall, was recently launched with five bike stations, each staffed by two people in two shifts. Having started with five stations employing 10 people, the scheme is envisioned to expand to 12 stations (24 staff) within its first year. Project staff continue to fund raise for donations and sponsorship agreements. The pressing needs are for improved infrastructure at the bike stations, better quality bicycles, payroll support for station workers and the addition of further stations. This is still difficult because the lack of infrastructure for bicycles and the bicycle culture makes it a bit skeptical, but we continue to believe that this is a good thing and we should try all ways possible. |  Read more

66

EcoVolis - Ecological Flight

the fisrt public bicycle in Albania - posted 17 Nov, 2010

The bicycle stations now are a reality in Albania. The first public bicycle adapted by Eco-Bicycle Team is called Ecovolis. Eco Volis comes from Latin and means ecological flight (flight volis in Latin). The citizens and the community of Tirana will be able to use it for their daily needs, helping to relieve congestion and reduce carbon emissions, but also to raise the fitness level of citizens, improve the quality of neighborhood life, and relieve pressure on municipal budgets. The first Ecovolis stations will be close to Youth Park, in the Tirana Park and other key points for transportation of the citizens of Tirana. Everyone can use this service by  subscribing to the Eco Bicycle to benefit by the possibility of using Ecovolis and also many other alternatives offered by Eco Bicycle. This ambitious project is the first of its kind in the Balkans, will soon spread to other major cities of Albania. |  Read more

67

Ecovolis - Tirana Community Bicycle

Ecovolis - Bike rental stations in Tirana - posted 13 Oct, 2010

The project already known as Tirana Bicycle Community "is the first initiative in Albania to establish the stations for renting bicycles. The project is an initiative of "PASS" organization with the support of OSFA and the American organization "Pedal for Progress" which has donated the first 500 bicycles in the service to this program. The purpose of this project is to increase the use of bicycles as a healthy and ecological transport. On 22nd of September, on the national activity day “A Day without cars” we began the first activity "transport by bicycle " as a new form of bicycle rental service for the citizens of Tirana. Over 200 bicycles were distributed in the Youth Park, Mother Theresa Square and to the Ministry of Environment. In the next year, Tirana Bicycle Community aims to establish 12 stations for renting bicycles, of which 7 will be at the University of Tirana and 5 will be other public spaces. In these centers we will employ people from families in need and with few employment opportunities. We are still working out the mechanism of distributing the bicycle to rent. Elements of security and guarantees of their return are very important in order that this service exists and continuously expand and increase the number of bicycles in circulation.  |  Read more

68

Ecovolis - A day without Cars

How to reduce gas emissions - postuar në 23 Shtator 2010

On the International Day without Cars PASS organization, with the motto "Live Green" has called citizens to this day not to use their private vehicles, in order to increase air quality. The aim is to promote sustainable transport in the workplace, schools and other facilities by encouraging alternative transportation by bicycle, walking on foot, public transport and other environmentally friendly ways, affecting traffic reduction, reduction of gas emissions and protect the health and quality of life of citizens. On September 22nd, for some years has turned into an initiative, where all citizens should be proactive to reduce air pollution. Tirana is considered as one of the most polluted capitals in Europe in terms of air quality and high level of dust particles in the atmosphere.  |  Read more

Follow us on twitter
The most recent Eco-Bike, awareness campaigns and bicycle outdoor activities.
Add your images in gallery
Here you can add your pictures during the Eco-Bike bicycle tours and other activities.
Subscribe to Ecovolis
Subscribe to receive Eco-Bike rental bicycles and take advantage of our services.
See the latest news
The fisrt station's bicycle in the Youth Park with the support of Soros Foundation, Pedal for Progress and PASS.

How does Ecovolis works?

Eco Bicycle is a public service provided to citizens through bicycle stations of bicycles at various points of the city, to move and perform daily chores. These bike stations will be established by PASS and will be monitored in cooperation with local authorities, employing people with few employment opportunities and families in need.

What are the benefits of Ecovolis ?

Eco-Bicycle reduces traffic in city centers, educates our community according to a European model, simultaneously gaining the benefits of bicycle use, offers the opportunity to local government to improve public transport according to the model of sustainable economic, social and environmental developoment.