Cycling to the climate summit: 110 days to Baku
Published: Tuesday, Nov 19th 2024, 12:50
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Ingvar Perovanovich spent 110 days on the road from Freiburg in Germany to Baku: the 30-year-old cycled to the World Climate Conference in Azerbaijan.
"I haven't had a single flat tire in over 5,000 kilometers - that's an amazing thing," Perowanowitsch told the German Press Agency. He started his adventure in his home town of Freiburg (Baden-Württemberg) at the end of July.
As a freelance journalist, the cycling enthusiast accompanied his journey with a newspaper column, social media posts and a film. This even caught the attention of Azerbaijani politicians - who granted him a special permit to enter the country via WhatsApp contact. Azerbaijan's borders are usually closed. "I was in Georgia - and then flying the last 500 kilometers to Baku would have felt wrong somehow. In other words, that was the day of the decision."
The bicycle as an "underestimated climate factor"
With his trip, he wants to inspire people to cycle and draw attention to positive examples of the transport revolution. "The bicycle has the potential to solve almost every ecological problem we have in cities. What technology can claim that?" says Perovanovich. So far, it has often been ignored because lifestyle habits would have to change if streets were redesigned in favor of bicycles. "But the bicycle is an underestimated climate factor."
In Baku, however, the Fribourg native prefers to leave his bike behind - cycle paths are a rarity. He prefers to travel back by train and bus - if he can manage to send his bamboo bike home.
©Keystone/SDA
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