Bikes known as White Bicycles originating from Hoge Veluwe National Park, a natural area located in the Dutch region of Gelderland, are being reused in Morocco. More than 500 of these well-known bicycles, which were once provided at no cost to park guests, have now been gifted to assist school children and triathlon competitions within the nation.
“We previously sent them to Central and Southern Africa, but this time we went with Morocco,” stated Baron Seger van Voorst tot Voorst, the park’s director, in an
interview
in collaboration with the local public broadcasting station. “There are 400,000 people of Moroccan origin residing in the Netherlands, and we aimed to help reinforce these connections.”
The initiative seeks to decrease the extended time kids spend traveling to school, which can enhance their attendance and educational outcomes. The bicycles are light and do not have gears; they are provided for use and completely restored every five years by the park’s specialized maintenance center.
Bicycles are also utilized in triathlons across Morocco, even though the region presents difficulties due to its mountainous landscape. As part of the initiative’s future goals, young locals are receiving training as bike technicians to manage emerging service centers and maintain ongoing operations.
Initially created to encourage sustainable travel, these basic white bicycles are currently supporting neighborhoods well outside of the Netherlands.