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History:
Cycle 4 Recycle was born as an idea in the year of 2014 and has made its first steps as a working initiative in 2015.
Everything started with Vyacheslav Stoyanov's (Slav) passion for travel. For many years he has been traveling the world with the idea to get to know life first-hand. While meeting many different nationalities, religions and people with different levels of education, he understands that everyone from all around the world is not so different after all. They are sharing the same internal striving, dreams and problems. The most uncomfortable truth, which Slav faced, was that everywhere people are perceiving themselves as something different from nature, and have no respect for it. These observations and concerns made him go on his first bicycle expedition contributing to society in the year of 2009. The goal was to unite all countries, which are sharing the shores of the Black sea, over the idea of keeping the coasts and the water clean.
After the successful end of the expedition Slav was inspired by the public awareness which was built and completed more projects related to bicycle riding and the positive outcomes of it. With time the idea for more positive and concerned society grew and became the main goal of his life.
In 2014 Slav finds a proselyte in the face of Yana Melamed who shares his passion for adventures with public benefits. Both familiar with the honest communication which is possible when you are on the road traveling, decided to start their own initiative. It is going to test a new approach which enhances public concern regarding people's coexistence on the planet.
"We are used to being nurtured by Mother Earth all the time, but she already has too many children. It is about time we mature and take responsibility. " From the book “Expedition REcycle” by Vyacheslav Stoyanov
Everything started with Vyacheslav Stoyanov's (Slav) passion for travel. For many years he has been traveling the world with the idea to get to know life first-hand. While meeting many different nationalities, religions and people with different levels of education, he understands that everyone from all around the world is not so different after all. They are sharing the same internal striving, dreams and problems. The most uncomfortable truth, which Slav faced, was that everywhere people are perceiving themselves as something different from nature, and have no respect for it. These observations and concerns made him go on his first bicycle expedition contributing to society in the year of 2009. The goal was to unite all countries, which are sharing the shores of the Black sea, over the idea of keeping the coasts and the water clean.
After the successful end of the expedition Slav was inspired by the public awareness which was built and completed more projects related to bicycle riding and the positive outcomes of it. With time the idea for more positive and concerned society grew and became the main goal of his life.
In 2014 Slav finds a proselyte in the face of Yana Melamed who shares his passion for adventures with public benefits. Both familiar with the honest communication which is possible when you are on the road traveling, decided to start their own initiative. It is going to test a new approach which enhances public concern regarding people's coexistence on the planet.
"We are used to being nurtured by Mother Earth all the time, but she already has too many children. It is about time we mature and take responsibility. " From the book “Expedition REcycle” by Vyacheslav Stoyanov
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The projects:
AROUND THE BLACK SEA "RECYCLE" EXPEDITION 2009
The “REcycle” expedition around the Black sea coast was focused on two main goals: “Cycling” and “Recycling”. The expedition passed through Romania, Ukraine, Russia, Abkhazia, Georgia, Turkey and Bulgaria. The primary object of the research was to find out how different countries which border the Black sea are addressing their problems with plastic waste and how they reuse and recycle. Our mission was to motivate the inhabitants around the coast to take care and act accordingly in order to ensure cleaner and therefore healthier waters. Many plastic products such as packaging, carrier bags and petrochemical products are not biodegradable and as such have a lasting impact on nature, and in this instance the sea, as they can never be fully recycled, not even over a wide-span of time. The findings we collected were broadcast by local media in the countries surrounding the Black sea. We have also published a book telling the story of the “REcycle” expedition. (click here)
Distance: 6'000 km.
Distance: 6'000 km.
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GREECE COAST "RECYCLE" EXPEDITION 2009
"REcycle" Greece expedition followed next. It covered the Macedonian, Albanian and Greek coasts . The mission of the expedition was "Life without waste" and was aimed as a comparison between the coasts of the Ionian sea, Sea of Crete and the Aegean Sea, and the Black sea. The reports I created included my research findings about the illegal landfills and the waste problem and were published by local media in Macedonia, Albania and Greece.
Distance: 4'800 km.
Distance: 4'800 km.
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CYCLING RELAY-RACE AROUND MEDITERRANEAN SEA 2010
From January 2010 until December 2010 the bicycle expedition “REcycle” took along the whole basin of the Mediterranean sea. Duration of the expedition was 10 months, passing through the 22 countries around the Mediterranean sea and covering more than 32'000 km.
The goal was to extend the research about the reasons and problems with waste, adding data from those countries. It included an analysis of the way different social, religious and demographic groups think and feel about consumption and environmental protection. The first topic of the project was “Recycling of the thinking". It has been focused on how people from different countries handle the problem with waste and what attitude they have towards the environment.
The second topic was “Bicycle riding as a way of life and way to stay healthy”, the longest cycling relay-race around the Mediterranean sea. During the expedition more than 500 municipalities from the 22 counties were visited discussing the safety cycling lines in the cities and the clean environment. The "Factor Foundation" was also founded.
Distance: 31'500 km.
Total participants: around 10'000 cyclists.
Main sponsors:
The goal was to extend the research about the reasons and problems with waste, adding data from those countries. It included an analysis of the way different social, religious and demographic groups think and feel about consumption and environmental protection. The first topic of the project was “Recycling of the thinking". It has been focused on how people from different countries handle the problem with waste and what attitude they have towards the environment.
The second topic was “Bicycle riding as a way of life and way to stay healthy”, the longest cycling relay-race around the Mediterranean sea. During the expedition more than 500 municipalities from the 22 counties were visited discussing the safety cycling lines in the cities and the clean environment. The "Factor Foundation" was also founded.
Distance: 31'500 km.
Total participants: around 10'000 cyclists.
Main sponsors:
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"CYCLE SAFE" National CYCLING MARATHON OF BULGARIA 2011
With the support of the "Factor Foundation" the first national cycling marathon of Bulgaria was organized, with a total distance of 3'150 km. National cycling marathon was held between April 2 and May 4, 2011 and promoted the cause:“Cycle Safe”.
Cycling Marathon, “Cycle Safe Bulgaria 2011″, aimed at promoting the bicycle as a means of safe transport in the urban environment.
With this initiative we wanted to contribute to the good health and mental comfort of the Bulgarian citizens.
The Cycling marathon passed through the 28 regional centers of Bulgaria and presented to the public the benefits drawn from international experience, using a bicycle – a model for sustainable transport.
Distance: 3'150 km.
Total participants: around 5'000 cyclists.
Main Media partners: Main sponsors:
Cycling Marathon, “Cycle Safe Bulgaria 2011″, aimed at promoting the bicycle as a means of safe transport in the urban environment.
With this initiative we wanted to contribute to the good health and mental comfort of the Bulgarian citizens.
The Cycling marathon passed through the 28 regional centers of Bulgaria and presented to the public the benefits drawn from international experience, using a bicycle – a model for sustainable transport.
Distance: 3'150 km.
Total participants: around 5'000 cyclists.
Main Media partners: Main sponsors:
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"CYCLE SAFE" NETHERLANDS AND BELGIUM 2011
During the expedition the "Dutch Cycling Embassy" in Utrecht, Netherlands was visited. At a meeting with Tom Gotefroij we discussed how to promote cycling as a means of transport and ways to improve cycling infrastructure in Eastern Europe; We also visited "European Cycling Federation" in Brussels, Belgium. At a meeting with Martti Tulenheimo we discussed future "ECF" projects in Bulgaria. Meeting with "GRACQ" in Charleroi, Belgium followed. As a result, the experience from the Netherlands's and Belgium's organizations has been shared with the Bulgarian and world organizations, which care about safe cycling, and the opportunity for next projects as "Social Cycling" events and "Sofia Green Tour" was opened.
Distance: 1'300 km.
Distance: 1'300 km.
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"CYCLE SAFE" : " CYCLING MORNING" AND "CYCLING NIGHT"
Since 2011, the initiatives for social cycling in Sofia, Bulgaria were started. "Cycling morning" and "Cycling night" were designed to promote cycling as an environmentally friendly, healthy, convenient and enjoyable way of living and travelling. The initiatives showed how the cyclists can improve safety on the road. More than 100 cyclists in Sofia every week join into the events and show to the locals an alternative way of transportation and healthy live. It is also great fun! At the moment, the initiatives are running with the name:
Association "Velo Razhodka" http://velorazhodka.org/bg
Association "Velo Razhodka" http://velorazhodka.org/bg
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"SOFIA GREEN TOUR" AND "SOFIA BIKE"
In 2011 "Sofia Green Tour" started as an voluntary initiative and one year later was "officially" adopted by "Foundation Factor". The initiative presents a free of charge model, allowing Bulgarian and foreign guests to visit the capital, by also providing a memorable tourist experience. All the guides are volunteers who help the initiative in their free time. It works on the principle "just show up". Every day the guide-volunteer waits with the poster "Sofia Green Tour" at the starting point - the National Theater "Ivan Vazov". The guides show and discover with the guests pure Sofia and Bulgaria: nature, people, culture & incredible life experiences during the tour. "Sofia Green Tour" provide fun, affordable and sustainable travel adventures. And again, it also about having a lot of fun! The sole purpose is to enrich the guests' lives by creating unique, interactive travel experiences in Sofia and the countryside by biking and hiking. From the beginning "Sofia Green Tour" initiative has been visited by more than 17'000 guests from all around the world.
Sofia Green Tour: www.sofiagreentour.com
Main sponsor:
Sofia Green Tour: www.sofiagreentour.com
Main sponsor:
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