Wen-VELO: from new cyclist to enduring cyclist
Learning to cycle is one thing. Keeping cycling is another. To ensure that pupils of De Fietsschool keep cycling even after their last cycling lesson, they can temporarily borrow a second-hand bike. And completely free of charge. After a three-month 'settling-in period', they can then buy the same bike. As these are often people with limited financial resources, we call on organisations and companies with a warm heart to do their bit.
Learning to cycle = continuing to cycle?
Every year, Mobiel 21 and the Leuven branch of De Fietsschool teach more than 100 adults and about 40 OKAN youngsters how to cycle. We are quite proud of that, because by now we know for sure that cycling changes lives. As a matter of fact, the students themselves confirm this.
Nevertheless, surveys of former participants show that some of them stop cycling after a while. 40% of them indicate that six months after the last lesson, they actually no longer cycle. The main reasons: I don't have my own bike, my bike is broken, or my bike has been stolen. These figures should not be surprising. Students at De Fietsschool are often in financially vulnerable situations. Buying a new bicycle or repairing a broken one is then not a matter of course.
Support with wen-VELOs
To remove thresholds and turn new cyclists into real permanent cyclists, De Fietsschool launched a pilot project of so-called wenbikes, or wen-VELOs, in 2022. And that in collaboration with CERA and VELO. The project gave pupils of De Fietsschool the chance to borrow a quality second-hand bike after their cycling lessons at the Fietspunt in Leuven. Completely free of charge and for a period of three months.
Purchase and repair assistance
At the end of that 'wen period', people can buy the same bike for €75. The bikes currently in the wen-VELO system have a market value of €150. CERA will match the other €75 through a bike voucher. We determine whether participants are eligible for this financial support using the Uitpass system with opportunity status. Processing, lending and any repairs are done at the Fietspunt where social bike company VELO trains vulnerable people to become bike repairers.
Good news! The system works. 80% of participants with a wen-VELO decide to purchase that bike after three months.
A warm call: make a VELO gift!
With the pilot project coming to an end, Mobiel 21 is looking for financial support to continue the success of the wen-VELO system. At the end of 2022, we launched the 'Make a velo gift' campaign. That raised €1815. That's a lot of bicycle vouchers already! With those pennies from generous donors, we were able to give several pupils a decent bicycle. That little push is all they need to keep cycling.
In the future, too, we want to continue offering wen-VELOs to pupils of The Cycling School. Interested in becoming a sponsor, or do you know of organisations and companies that would like to join us in providing wen-VELOs?
Want to know more about the wen-VELO system? Questions about potential sponsorship?
Our colleague Hannelore Depypere is ready to help. Contact her using the form below.
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