Cermonews #16 | When Was the Last Time You Rode a Bicycle?
- Parabol
- Jun 4
- 6 min read
🚌 Welcome to the 16th edition of Cermonews! 👋🏻
For 16 issues, we have been exploring public transportation concepts, their real-world implications, and practical applications together. This edition is dedicated to World Bicycle Day on June 3rd, and we would like to start with a simple question:
When was the last time you rode a bicycle?
Although bicycles are often seen as a sport or leisure activity, they also play an important role in urban mobility as a healthy, sustainable, and accessible mode of transportation.
Inspired by this special day, we take a closer look at bicycles as a means of transport and explore their place in our cities.
Throughout this issue, we will discuss:
🚲 How bicycles are positioned as a mode of transportation around the world,
🏙️ The factors that shape cycling in cities,
🌱 The potential impacts of increased bicycle use on urban life,
🚌🚲 How bicycles and public transport can work together, with examples from Türkiye and around the world.
As always, we will also ask you a few questions along the way to explore different perspectives and experiences together.
Enjoy reading! 🚲
🚴♀️ Bicycle: A Hobby or A Mode Of Transportation?
The answer largely depends on the city you live in.
In some cities, cycling is still mainly associated with sports and recreation, while in others it has become a natural part of everyday life.
In Türkiye, investments in cities such as Konya, Sakarya, and Eskişehir are helping position bicycles not only as a leisure activity but also as a practical mode of daily transportation. Bicycle lanes, bike-sharing systems, and awareness initiatives aim to strengthen the role of cycling in urban mobility.
In the Netherlands, approximately 28% of all trips are made by bicycle, while in Copenhagen, bicycles account for around 36% of commuting and educational trips. In these cities, cycling is not simply an alternative mode of transport; it is considered a fundamental component of the transportation system.
These examples highlight an important point: the widespread use of bicycles is shaped not only by individual preferences but also by safe infrastructure, accessible connections, and supportive mobility policies. As cities invest in cycling, bicycles become a more visible and preferred part of everyday life.
What do you mainly use a bicycle for?
Daily use (work, school, shopping, etc.)
Sport and excercise
Hobby
Access to public transport
🔍 What Shapes Bicycle Use in Cities?
In many cities, the main barrier to cycling is not that people do not want to ride bicycles.
More often, it comes down to questions such as:
🚦 Do I feel safe?
🛣 Can I reach my destination through a continuous cycling network?
🚌 Can I combine cycling with public transport?
📍 Is the travel time reasonable?
According to Dutch government data, more than half of all car trips are shorter than 5 kilometers. While this distance is easily bikeable for many people, infrastructure quality and safety conditions play a major role in determining travel choices.
Cities with high cycling rates tend to share one common characteristic:
Bicycles are not treated simply as painted lanes on the road—they are treated as part of a complete transportation system.
Cycling infrastructure, parking facilities, station connections, traffic safety measures, and public transport integration are planned together.
What is the biggest factor preventing you from cycling more often in your city?
Insufficient safe bike paths.
Density of motor vehicle traffic
Lack of proper bicycle path infrastructure
Lack of integration with public transport
🌳 How Does Cycling Benefit Cities?
Cycling is often discussed primarily in terms of environmental benefits.
However, its impact goes much further.
A significant share of urban trips are relatively short, yet many of these journeys are still made by car.
Shifting even a portion of these trips to bicycles can:
🚗 Reduce traffic congestion
🌍 Lower carbon emissions
🅿 Reduce the need for parking space
🌳 Increase the amount of public space available for people
Particularly in dense urban centers, every additional cycling trip influences not only individual travel choices but also how public space is used.
For this reason, many cities increasingly view cycling not only as a transportation policy but also as a quality-of-life strategy.
🚍 How Do Bicycle and Public Transport Integrated?
While public transport enables longer journeys across cities, bicycles help people reach stations and stops more easily, becoming a complementary part of the transport network. Together, they create a more accessible, flexible, and sustainable mobility system.
Cycling plays an important role, particularly in areas where access to public transport is limited. By helping people cover the first and last parts of their journey, bicycles extend the reach of public transport networks. This concept is commonly known as the "first mile / last mile" solution.
🇳🇱 Amsterdam is one of the best-known examples of this integration. Across the Netherlands, nearly half of train passengers access stations by bicycle, and train stations provide more than 500,000 bicycle parking spaces.
🇩🇰 In Copenhagen, approximately 36% of commuting and educational trips are made by bicycle. Metro and train stations are supported by continuous cycling networks, enabling seamless transfers between transport modes.
🇫🇷 Paris has rapidly expanded its cycling infrastructure in recent years. Between 2019 and 2024, the cycling mode share increased by 6.2 percentage points, making it one of Europe's fastest-growing cycling cities. New bicycle corridors and bike-sharing systems have strengthened integration with the metro network.
🇹🇷 Konya is one of Türkiye's leading examples. With approximately 680 km of bicycle lanes, it has one of the country's most extensive cycling networks and ranks among the cities with the world's longest bicycle lane infrastructure. Supported by tram lines and bike-sharing systems, the city aims to expand its cycling network to 786 km by 2030.
💬 Do you think bicycles and public transport complement each other effectively in your city?
🎥 Cermopedia #11 | How Do Bicycle and Public Transport Integrated?
In this new episode of Cermopedia, we explore how bicycles and public transport work together in celebration of World Bicycle Day.
In this short and easy-to-follow episode, we answer questions such as:
• Why should bicycles and public transport be considered together?
• What is the last-mile problem?
• How does the Bike & Ride approach work?
• Why is bicycle-public transport integration important for cities?
• What infrastructure is needed for successful integration?
In just three minutes, we explain how integrating bicycles and public transport can contribute to more accessible, sustainable, and user-friendly mobility systems. 👇
Stay tuned for future episodes! 🎥📚
News from Us 📰
🌐 Driving Digital Twin Transformation at EGO!
As part of a project supported by the Ankara Development Agency, we completed a series of training programs designed to support EGO General Directorate's digital twin transformation journey.
Through these trainings, we focused on building a shared understanding, common language, and organizational awareness around the concept of digital twins across EGO, within the framework of the "twin transition" approach that brings together digital and green transformation. We also contributed to knowledge sharing and awareness-building across the organization regarding the applications, benefits, and transformative potential of digital twin technologies in public transportation.
🚍 What If Public Transport Stopped for A Day?
As part of World Public Transport Day, we asked industry professionals, experts, students, and citizens a simple question:
"What if public transport disappeared for a day?"
The responses once again highlighted the essential role of public transport in connecting people, cities, and opportunities. We were pleased to take part in this special day, celebrated under the leadership of UITP, and to help showcase the impact of public transport on our daily lives and communities. 🚍🌍
🚍 We were at the 17. ITS European Congress 2026 in İstanbul!
The 17th ITS European Congress 2026, held in Istanbul, provided a valuable opportunity to connect with mobility stakeholders and celebrate an important achievement.
During our session, "From Detection to Prevention: AI-powered Safety Intelligence for Cities," our teammates Emre Er and Tuğçe Işık joined Martin Thomas Schlecht (Technische Universität Berlin), Itzel Obregon Prescott (EIT Urban Mobility), and Eduardo Lopes (Armis) to discuss data- and AI-driven approaches to urban road safety.
The session brought together diverse perspectives and generated valuable discussions on how data can support safer and smarter cities.
Cermoni, wins the Mobility Technology Award of ITS Türkiye!
During ITS European Congress 2026, Cermoni – Public Transportation Decision Support System received the Mobility Technology Award presented by AUS Türkiye.
Cermoni supports demand-driven public transport planning and optimization through data-driven analytics and decision-making tools, helping operators improve service efficiency and resource utilization. 🚍🏆
🚍 We Took the Stage at #Connect4Mobility in Konya!
We participated in the "From Data to Solutions: Data-Driven Mobility Applications in Cities" panel at Connect4Mobility, moderated by Duygu Kayaalp An, EIT Urban Mobility Türkiye Coordinator.
Our Marketing and Business Development Director, Tuğçe Işık, joined Aişe Göğüş İçli from Konya Metropolitan Municipality to share insights on data-driven mobility applications in Konya and their real-world impacts. We also presented the outcomes of the Safely Project, supported by EIT Urban Mobility, and discussed the role of citizen feedback in decision-making processes. 🚉✨
🎊 We Celebrated Our 15th Year!
Fifteen years ago, our colleague Metin Barış started a journey that continues to grow today with a team united by the same values.
Through our mobility solutions, we have contributed to millions of journeys across different cities while continuing to pursue innovation and positive impact with the same excitement as day one. On this occasion, we remember our founder Metin Barış with respect and gratitude, and thank everyone who has been part of this journey. ✨
🚍 What Would Changed If More People Cycled In Your City?
Cities with higher cycling rates often experience reduced traffic congestion, lower emissions, and more efficient use of public space. What do you think would change the most in your city if more people chose to cycle?
📩 We'd be happy to hear your thoughts, experiences, and observations.
You can also read this issue online and share it with anyone who might find it interesting.
See you in the next issue! 👋
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