Hasan Cüneyt Bozkurt, an educator and author from Söke, completed a bicycle tour that began in Çavdar Neighborhood of Söke on July 5 and ended at Anıtkabir on July 21. Originally launched as an eTwinning project, the bicycle tour was developed by graduate students in the Department of Educational Administration, Supervision, Planning and Economics at Ege University as part of the Educational Planning and Economics course and is now rapidly evolving into a scientific study.
During the tour, Bozkurt visited and examined 14 schools along the route. He compiled a research portfolio focusing on issues such as the number of teachers and students commuting to school by bicycle, the availability of bicycle lanes on streets leading to schools, bicycle parking facilities, bicycle use in schools, projects promoting environmental awareness, club activities, educational trips, collaborations with local governments and non-governmental organizations, and whether any teachers were conducting projects similar to the bicycle tour initiative. One of the most striking findings was that none of the schools had a teacher leading a project centered on long-distance bicycle touring. These findings now provide a valuable data source for future scientific research.
In addition, the bicycle tour was transformed into an educational video intended for use on EBA and other educational platforms. The video aims to encourage students to move away from consumerism and embrace a simpler lifestyle, evaluate the UNESCO Sustainable Development Goals 2030 within the context of Türkiye, and raise awareness of ecological and contemporary ways of living. The first screening of the video was held at Seyda Fırat Primary School.
Following the screening, an event introducing the objectives of the project was organized. During the event, the school principal, Burçak Akıncı Ekiztepe, announced that new projects were being developed to promote cycling as a lifestyle and to support long-distance bicycle touring.
Conducted under the supervision of Yılmaz Tonbul, the outcomes of the Çavdar–Anıtkabir Bicycle Tour Project will be disseminated through presentations, project activities, and informational displays to be created in schools.
