Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3, Photo 4
You can cycle through the winter like the Dutch do, you just need to adjust to your local conditions. Winter cycling is not only beneficial for your health but also for the environment. Now the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is offering a chance to learn a new useful skill that will inspire you to keep on cycling all year long in Helsinki.
Do It Yourself Winter Tyre Workshops will teach you how to change your own bicycle tyres with the help of professional bike mechanics! The aim of these workshops is to encourage more people in Helsinki to continue cycling even when more challenging winter conditions kick in. The Netherlands Embassy wishes to support cycling as a form of commute all year round and is sponsoring this event which is open for all and free of charge for attendees. Local cycling association, Helsinki Cyclists (Helsingin Polkupyöräilijät ry (HePo)) and sustainable transport specialist Vapaus.io are co-organisers of these workshops.
- In addition to being passionate about cycling, Dutch people are also well known for their street smarts and entrepreneurial spirit. We were thoroughly delighted when we were told that the Netherlands Embassy wishes to support these workshops that our volunteers had been asking for. This event wonderfully combines Dutch style DIY attitude with skills that are beneficial when cycling in winter conditions of Helsinki, comments producer Kati Pankka from Helsinki Cyclists (HePo).
- Cycling all year round is very common in the Netherlands and we wish to encourage more and more people to do the same here in Finland. We also understand that Finnish winter conditions can be more challenging and slippery than in Holland, and therefore we chose to sponsor this workshop which is well adjusted to local conditions. You might have noticed, that here’s a logical segway to our work as an embassy in general; supporting integration to local conditions is an important part of the work we do, says Communications & Public Diplomacy Officer Ilona Jääskeläinen-Overduin from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Professional bike mechanics of Vapaus will be teaching attendees in both English and Finnish.
- We wish to support people in Helsinki to choose sustainable forms of commuting and are happy to share our knowledge when it comes to events like these that will inspire people to cycle more. We want to make it as flexible and easy as possible for the attendees of these DIY workshops so they can either bring along their own winter tyres, or purchase them from us on the spot, explains Operations Manager Jukka Toivari from Vapaus.
This event will take into account current local covid-19 restrictions. Three separate workshops are organised, which each last for an hour, and accommodate maximum 10 people. Bike Café Espa will be present during the event and the embassy will offer hot drinks and traditional Dutch sweet treats, pepernoten, to all participants and their family members. Those who choose to stay at home can also join in the fun and learn some tricks by following a live broadcast through Helsingin Polkupyöräilijät ry - HePo Facebook page.
Time and date: Saturday 28th November, from 12 PM to 3 PM (Three 1 hour workshops are available. Each workshop accommodates maximum 10 attendees)
Venue: Erottajankatu 19B, Helsinki
Pre-registrations are necessary by 25th November: https://forms.gle/MsJRE8B2usgxgSVR9
Event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/471724177128104
Additional information:
Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Ilona Jääskeläinen-Overduin
Communications & Public Diplomacy Officer
0405692161
ilona.jaaskelainen(a)minbuza.nl
Vapaus
Jukka Toivari
Operations Manager
0401768008
jukka(a)vapaus.io
Helsinki Cyclists - Helsingin Polkupyöräilijät ry (HePo)
Kati Pankka
Producer
0445189472
kati.pankka(a)hepo.fi
Media Images:
Photo 1: Atmospheric bicycle decorated with xmas lights. Photographer: Niklas Strengell
Photo 2: Bike repair work. Photo: Vapaus
Photo 3: Bicycle winter tyre tracks on snow. Photographer: Timo Halo
Photo 4: Studded bicycle winter tyre. Photographer: Samuli Pahkala @heiluvaseta
Helsingin Polkupyöräilijät (HePo) ry.:
Helsingin Polkupyöräilijät ry (https://hepo.fi/) on pyöräilyn edistämiseen keskittynyt kansalaisjärjestö, jolla on yli 1500 jäsentä. Pääkaupunkiseudulla pyörällä liikkuvien yhteisön ja edunvalvojan tavoitteena on parantaa pyöräilyn edellytyksiä ja tehdä pääkaupunkiseudusta viihtyisämpi paikka elää ja liikkua. Jäsenenä saat lisäksi alennuksia pyöräliikkeistä ja muista palveluista. Lue lisää jäsenyydestä ja liity mukaan: https://hepo.fi/yhdistys/liity-jaseneksi/
Helsingin Polkupyöräilijät Ry Facebook, Twitter,Instagram.
© Koodiviidakko Oy - Y-tunnus 1939962-1