THE AESTHETICS OF CYCLING LIFE MEET IN THE EXHIBITION “MY COMPANION”

Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality has brought together art lovers with its photography exhibition titled "Yol Arkadaşım" (My Companion) prepared with the aim of promoting environmentally friendly transportation policies and expanding the bicycle culture in the city. Speaking at the opening of the exhibition and emphasizing the importance of bicycle lanes, Mayor Ayşe Ünlüce said, "Through this exhibition, visitors will see that the bicycle is not only a means of transportation but also an eco-friendly, social habit and a necessity."

The exhibition, signed by photographer Ufuk Akçay, presents snapshots of Eskişehir's cycling culture captured at different times and in various settings. From the city's streets to its parks, from daily life to special moments, the photographs highlight that the bicycle is not merely a mode of transport but also a way of life.

At the opening, photographer Ufuk Akçay stated that the bicycle is a symbol of a new way of connecting with the city and said: "We prepared this exhibition as part of the European Mobility Week and brought it to Sanat Sokağı (Art Street) upon the request of our Mayor Ayşe Ünlüce. The people featured in the photos are members of the Eskişehir Bicycle Transportation Platform. With the contributions of our members, we completed the exhibition within three weeks and opened it during the European Mobility Week. We then brought it here. We thank our Mayor Ayşe Ünlüce for bringing bicycle lanes to our city and everyone who contributed. As a cyclist, this development is truly significant for us. This is where the importance of these lanes becomes evident: unfortunately, many traffic accidents occur, and cyclists lose their lives. We were in great need of these lanes to ride safely within the city. Thanks to the bicycle lanes, which will be completed in phases over the coming period, we will be able to ride much more safely. I thank everyone involved."

Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ayşe Ünlüce also noted that the European Mobility Week was celebrated magnificently in Eskişehir: "This year, Eskişehir practically celebrated the European Mobility Week as a pilot city. We had guests both from the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye and from abroad. I also had the opportunity to visit this exhibition during the events. With our goal of making Eskişehir one of the 'safest cities for bicycle use' in the upcoming period, I thought that this exhibition would create a wonderful synergy and I requested it to be brought here. Thanks to Ufuk Akçay for accepting. Many visitors will come to see this exhibition. Through this exhibition, visitors will see that the bicycle is not only a mode of transportation but also an eco-friendly, social habit and a necessity. When I looked at the exhibition's manifesto, I came across a beautiful sentence: 'A bicycle is also a confidant, a friend, a companion.' This expression suits the exhibition's title, 'My Companion,' very well. I hope that starting next year, the bicycle will become a true companion, confidant, and friend for everyone living in Eskişehir. Today, through this exhibition, we will have the chance to see the bicycle expressed in an aesthetic language and artistic perspective. I thank everyone who contributed to the preparation of this exhibition. I hope that it will leave a lasting impression with its beauty, extraordinary photographs, and aesthetic approach, and that it will encourage our citizens to use bicycles."

Sharing information about the ongoing bicycle lane works in the city, Mayor Ünlüce added: "You know that the bicycle lane construction process we started in our city is not yet complete. Next year, the second phase will be finished, and the following year the third phase. However, even in its current state, we learned that bicycle sales have increased by 10 percent, which makes us very happy. This shows that interest will be much higher once the project is fully completed. With this occasion, I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this exhibition and the valued members of the platform who supported the construction of our bicycle lanes. At the end of the exhibition, I say let's all continue cycling and keep pedaling."

The "My Companion" photography exhibition can be visited free of charge at the Sanat Sokağı Temporary Exhibition Hall until November 9, 2025.