Bike docking stations set up to support ‘life in the slow lane’

BICYCLE docking stations are being set up at six different locations in and around the village of Mehmetçik as part of the local council’s efforts to promote “life in the slow lane”.

Mayor Cemil Sarıçizmeli said private company Cybikes had been tasked with constructing the stations from where people will be able to hire a bike by using an app on their smartphone.

Bicycles will be available to hire from within Mehmetçik and the resort of Bafra for a fee of $1 an hour, paid by credit card, and they will not have to be returned to the same docking station.

“Cycling is not a very common form of transportation,” Mr Sarıçizmeli said.

“But we do believe that it will become more common. We believe that this [cycle hire scheme] will be of great interest to the tourists in Bafra.”

Mr Sarıçizmeli said construction of the docking stations would be completed in the coming days.

He explained that the project also formed part of the conditions of the village’s membership of Cittaslow — a global movement based in Italy that promotes a slowerpaced, better quality of life.

“There is great excitement and curiosity among the villagers,” Mr Sarıçizmeli said.

“We are doing our best to promote the philosophy of Cittaslow among the people in our village.”

He added that cycle paths had already been laid down in some areas of Mehmetçik.