What is EGRE MENGED?

“Egre Menged” is an Amharic phrase that means ‘Along the Way’ as the community spreads its vision and mission along its activities; mostly while rolling on two bicycle wheels. Egre Menged generally focuses on creating sustainable solutions, advocating for change, making behavioral changes, and influencing policymakers in the environment, health, and employment sectors.

Contact Details

እግረመንገድ
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Addis Ababa ,Ethiopia
555-555-5555
egremenged.cycling@gmail.com

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Egre Menged Community-based Cycling Project

is a community-based project by Egre Menged and has been functioning in Addis Ababa since February 2021. Egre Menged uses bicycles as a powerful tool to create new jobs, protect the environment and empower communities. It is a community group that rides bicycles on a weekly basis and advocates for a bicycle-friendly city. Under Egre Menged Community-based Cycling Project, three projects have been launched:

Egre Menged CYCLEmmunity

Egre Menged’s first project, ‘CYCLEmmunity, ’ rides bicycles on a weekly basis every Sunday morning and Wednesday afternoon. While the longest distance was about 100km, the project’s aim is to keep the rides short and hence doable for everyone who wants to join. Besides that, the group is very active in supporting its members to use bicycles on a daily basis while sharing experiences and stories throughout the week on their social media pages. Until now, the group has covered more than 2000 KMs in and around the city. Suitable for this, the motto is “Think Outside the Car”. Since its founding, the activities of Egre Menged’s CYCLEmmunity went beyond bicycle rides. They evolved towards a platform for cyclists to share experiences, knowledge, and best practices on bicycle maintenance, purchase, and road safety matters. Egre Menged CYCLEmmunity has more than 200 members, of which around 40 actively participate on the rides. The community is also in close contact with government and non-government stakeholders, other professional bicycle groups, and communities in different cities in Ethiopia.

CYCLEmmunity actively advocates for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as cycling is delivering on these goals worldwide. For mankind and the environment, it is crucial to increase transportation sustainability. Furthermore, all levels of government should ensure equal participation of all people in road transport through mobility. Therefore, Egre Menged CYCLEmmunity set a big focus with its work on SDG 11, Sustainable Cities and Community, SDG 3, Good health and well-being, and SDG 5, Gender Equality.

Cycle ትችያለሽ

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In September 2022, Egre Menged Community-based Cycling Project and Lem Ketema, launched a free bicycle training program for women in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, called “Cycle ትችያለሽ.“Cycle ትችያለሽ” is an Amharic word and means “You (female) Can too ride a Bicycle” in English and aims to empower women in Addis Ababa through cycling.

Vision and Mission

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Cycle ትችያለሽ creates a safe learning space for women where they learn in a group and experience the freedom of bicycle riding and empowerment not only while being on a bicycle but also as a critical player in the Non-motorized transport sector. The training is open for every woman with bicycle experience and especially without. [Cycle ትችያለሽ] bring gender equality to the streets that male cyclists and motorized transportation currently dominate. The project transforms the current transportation system, and the ultimate goal is to empower women to participate in that change. With that mission, Cycle ትችያለሽ actively serve the city’s current Non-Motorized Transport Strategy that targets 50% of women bicyclist on the streets until 2028. It strives to create a community that shares the values and dreams of a sustainable and inclusive city that is more accessible to cyclists and non-motorized transportation.The first pilot cohort successfully finished their training, and all 16 participants are now able to ride a bicycle on their own after six weeks of bicycle, road safety and maintenance training. A graduation ceremony was held with national and international governmental and institutional stakeholders.