How Deep Companionships on Two Wheels Engage Visually Impaired People in Türkiye
“We chat and discuss various topics, including issues related to the nation. The pilot describes the surroundings to the non-sighted copilot, who in turn asks questions about the environment and shares his feelings. When our tandem bicycle breaks down, we repair it together. We take breaks and eat together, learning many things from each other. In fact, with our journeys, we travel not only the distance between two points but also bridge the gap between the visually impaired and individuals with normal vision.”
EUROPEAN UNION, 2025
Co-pilot Fatih Söylemez and pilot Taşkın Özgür
According to the World Health Organisation, there are 39 million visually impaired people worldwide. In Türkiye, according to the Ministry of Family and Social Services, 1.4 per cent of the total population, or 1 million 39 thousand people, suffer from visual impairment.
One of the biggest problems faced by visually impaired people is the prejudice that society has against them. The Co-Pedal Association’s volunteers, supported by the European Union (EU), implemented the travelling companionship model to fight against these prejudices. The association was founded in Istanbul in 2015. With representative offices in 12 provinces, its headquarters moved to Izmir in 2017. It has almost a thousand volunteers in Türkiye. Co-Pedal benefits from the BİRLİKTE (Together) programme, implemented by the Civil Society Development Centre (STGM).
EUROPEAN UNION, 2025
Co-pilot Fatih Söylemez and pilot Taşkın Özgür
Söylemez states:
“Our main tool is the bicycle; with this tool, we try to find solutions to many social problems together as sighted and non-sighted individuals. This is our companionship model. Not only do we work in the field of disability rights, but we also support other causes. For example, we work to increase the number of women cyclists.”
EUROPEAN UNION, 2025
Co-pilot Fatih Söylemez and pilot Taşkın Özgür
According to Taşkın Özgür, Project Coordinator of the Co-Pedal Association, the essence of both the tandem and the word ‘Co-Pedal’ is equality: equal work, equal dedication and equal risk.
Taşkın explains: “If the necessary conditions are met, people with and without disabilities can share life without any problems. Thanks to the BİRLİKTE programme, the Co-Pedal Association brings a new perspective on the differences in perception between disabled and non-disabled people through the companionship model. We would like to thank the European Union for its support.”
EUROPEAN UNION, 2025
Pilot Taner Titiz and co-pilot Burcu Yıldız
Taner Titiz, another tandem pilot, states that he forgot about his regular bike after he began riding a tandem: “I invite everyone who loves cycling to ride a tandem.” His co-pilot, Burcu Yıldız, reflects: “After discovering tandem cycling, my perspective on the sport has shifted. I can no longer imagine my life without it because my tandem represents exercise, socialising, and the joy of life. Tandem cycling brings colour and richness to life, just like a rainbow.”
EUROPEAN UNION, 2025
Tandem riders do everything together, including bike repair in the event of a breakdown
The association’s volunteers participate in rides, festivals, and races between cities and countries. They also meet in summer camps and organise group rides.
EUROPEAN UNION, 2025
The Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye, Ambassador Thomas Ossowski
The Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye, Ambassador Thomas Ossowski, says: “Co-Pedal Association raises awareness in society about the rights of visually impaired individuals and cycling as a part of sustainable transport. The friendship between visually impaired and sighted individuals, established through an environmentally friendly mode of transport like cycling, brings us closer to the world we all want to build together. We attach great importance to projects like this.”
EUROPEAN UNION, 2025
The association has almost a thousand volunteers in Türkiye
To become a Co-Pedal Association volunteer and receive tandem training, click and fill out this form.
