Description of organisation

Ruotando cultural association was established on 2011 thanks to the call Principi Attivi of Puglia Region with the aim of promoting and increasing the use of bicycles as a simple, economic and sustainable means of transport. One of Ruotando's permanent projects is the open bicycle workshop called "Ciclofficina Popolare Knos" (CPK) in the area of Manifatture Knos cultural centre and Apulia Film Commission in Lecce. Ciclofficina still active and inspired by the principles of volunteering and self-financing. It's a space of learning and sharing for the whole community. The space has become not only a place where you can repair bicycles but above all a meeting space, a place appreciated by all where you have the opportunity to get in touch with social, cultural and intergenerational diversities.
Ciclofficina has also become a place to increase and develop skills in the employment and entrepreneurial field by learning technical skills in maintenance, fixing bikes and using innovative way to recycle unused materials for handicraft.

Ruotando organizes workshops for children with the aim of spreading bicycle knowledges, photo exhibitions, initiatives related to food awareness, mechanic courses, reuse of materials workshops, excursions and tours. On 2014 we built a structure as bicycle parking for intermodal exchange. Those who request it can leave their car in the parking and take their bike from the garage to move around the city. Over the years the organisation has become a reference that has helped other organisations to grow and develop such as Ciclofficina in Galatina and Ciclofficina in Alessano established with asylum seekers people.

Since 2019 Ruotando, in partnership with the Bicincittà company and the City of Lecce, provides the public bike-sharing service of the Municipality of Lecce, offering logistics, maintenance and road transport services for 80 bicycles available to citizens. In recent months we have signed an agreement with the Local Police Command of Lecce and the primary and secondary schools for the recovery and reuse of disused or abandoned bicycles for workshops and non-profit purposes.
In partnership with theaters, cinemas and festivals, Ruotando organizes cultural rides making the cost of tickets more accessible with discounts and reductions.
Our organization has a bike park of: n. 30 trekking bikes for medium/long distance excursions; n.2 urban bikes; n. 1 electric cargo bike.

Ciclofficina is open every day from Monday to Friday from 8.00 to 13 and from 15 to 20.
Normally the activities are structured as follow:
MORNING: bike sharing management, repairs, bike park maintenance
AFTERNOON: closed workshops (2 times a week), open self-repair workshops (2 times a week), excursions, cultural rides, balancing bike sharing, bike renting.

Inclusion topics

This organisation is willing to involve volunteers who face situations which make their participation in activities more difficult, from the following categories for different types of project:

• Refugees