The COP31 Bike Ride has started in Belém, Brazil! The banners that represent the 10 proposals that we bring to the COP in order to foster the inclusion of cycling in the NDCs ("Nationally Determined Contributions" ie the commitment and plans of countries to reduce green house gases emissions) are now on the way to the European continent with the support of multiple sailing boats !
The relay started with an incredible ride in Belém, Brazil, location of the COP30, in the presence of our Ambassador, Para State Representative Ângelo Augusto de Oliveira Ferrari and David Chaves Costa, our coordinator in Belém.
The banner made it way further in Brazil to Santana, where we were welcome by the deputy mayor, then to Macapa and up to Oiapoque! Thank you to Francesco and all riders ! Thank you to M. Dejane Lira from the Buteco do Flamingo!
We enjoyed the very first border crossing of the banner as the relay indeed reached French Guiana! The support to the ride was also outstanding there with the exceptional presence of our super riders from last year Sam and Diego, champions of biodiversity! Thank you to Didier and to Laurent from St Georges, Julien from La Kaz à velo in Cayenne and to Bruno, our local ride coordinator and super host in Kourou! The banner made it then on a boat, joining several others also headed to the continent!
A greet and meet at Horta in the Acores was also an opportunity to demonstrate the support of collectivities in our ride to the COP with the support of Ms. Maria Antónia Dutra, Vice President of the Horta City Council, and discussing with her the importance of cycling as a climate solution. We were then given a wonderful welcome directly by Mr. Carlos Manuel da Silveira Ferreira (President of the Horta City Council).
Thank you to our coordinator in Horta, and cyclist, Marriel Romualdo, for his enthusiasm and dedication! He made a great team with Ana Lu Moreno, our multi-branch and multi-country coordinator who oversaw the whole ride from Bélém to Kourou: the two discovered another thing they have in common besides their love of cycling—they’re both Cariocas! Thank you also to Ms. Paula Brum, secretary to the President of the Horta City Council, for her invaluable support.