Championing Bicycling: Yann Moszynski Promotes Cycling with a Beginner's Approach
In the heart of Paris, a cycling revolution is taking shape. Yann Moszynski, co-founder and creator of Les Rookies, a cycling blog, is leading the charge to make urban cycling more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
Yann's plan, however, has not been welcomed with enthusiasm by all, especially drivers. But he remains undeterred, focusing on the benefits that cycling can bring to urban areas.
The Covid-19 pandemic has sparked a behavioral shift in Parisians' attitude towards cycling. City officials have taken notice, with some even requesting a printed version of the Les Rookies handbook to distribute for free.
The handbook, titled "The Journey Is the Travel Itself - No(r)way", was created by Yann and his friend Matthieu Tober during the French lockdown. It received immediate and overwhelming feedback, with support from Anne Hidalgo's team, the Minister of Ecology in France, and many others.
The handbook provides advice on various aspects of urban cycling, including how to choose a bike, how to dress, and how to ride safely. It is accessible for free online, in both French and English.
Yann encourages cycling rookies not to feel judged or pressured. He stresses that the beauty of the bicycle is that it can be enjoyed alone, and once tried, it is likely to be continued.
The handbook has led to an increasing number of people joining Les Rookies, a cycling community for everyone. This community fosters creativity around cycling culture, encouraging community participation and awareness.
However, promoting cycling in urban areas is not without its challenges. Safety concerns, cultural and social barriers, infrastructure gaps, traffic, and pollution are just some of the hurdles that need to be overcome.
Yann advocates for combining improved infrastructure, cultural change, and innovative solutions to create a cycling-friendly urban environment. He advises those starting a cycling project to reach out to established cycling associations for valuable information and support.
Advances in e-bikes and bike-sharing systems expand accessibility and convenience for diverse populations. These technological innovations, coupled with active communities in cities like London, Berlin, Paris, and Copenhagen, present a powerful force for change.
The opportunities for promoting cycling in urban areas are vast. Environmental benefits, improved health and well-being, urban mobility, community engagement, and technological innovation all offer exciting possibilities.
Yann has been fighting to get people in Paris to cycle for over a decade. He started advocating for cycling by recording his cycling routes through Paris with dash cams on his helmet.
Anne Hidalgo, the new mayor of Paris in 2014, started impactful change for cycling in the city. She prepared an ambitious plan to increase cycling and reduce car-free areas in Paris. The pandemic has accelerated this change, with Anne creating many new bicycle paths, some of which were intended to be temporary but made permanent in July 2020.
Yann and Matthieu plan to travel 500 kilometers through Norway this summer, filming their adventure with the title "irresistible paradox of discomfort". The film will feature interviews with cyclists from around the world, discussing why they travel by bike.
Les Rookies, initially focused on adventure cycling and people's experiences around cycling, later shifted its focus to urban cycling. The duo's goal remains the same: to change the media's performance and competition-focused portrayal of cycling.
In the early 21st century, Paris started rolling out its first cycle lanes, but Yann considered the approach too shy and insufficient. Today, he is helping to shape a more cycling-friendly Paris, one ride at a time.
- Yann Moszynski, co-founder of Les Rookies, a cycling blog, advocates for a cycling-friendly urban lifestyle in Paris, focusing on the benefits that cycling can bring to the city.
- The handbook, "The Journey Is the Travel Itself - No(r)way", created by Yann and Matthieu Tober, provides advice on fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, and home-and-garden for urban cyclists, available for free in both French and English online.
- Advances in technology, such as e-bikes and bike-sharing systems, are making cycling more accessible and convenient, promoting relationships within the cycling community and reducing dependence on cars.
- As more people join the Les Rookies cycling community, they find a supportive space for self-development, education, and shopping, all while enjoying the benefits of urban cycling.
- Sports enthusiasts can also partake in the adventure side of cycling, as evidenced by Yann and Matthieu's plan to travel 500 kilometers through Norway, documenting their expedition, titled "irresistible paradox of discomfort".
