Egre Menged Impact እግረ መንገድ ኢምፓክት is a community-based organization with a social enterprise model advocating and actively working towards sustainable cities, non-motorized transportation, gender equality, road safety, public health, and environmental protection. “Egre Menged” is an Amharic phrase that means ‘Along the Way’ as the community spreads its vision and mission along its activities, mostly while rolling on two bicycle wheels. Egre Menged Impact generally focuses on bringing impact by creating sustainable solutions, advocating for change, making behavioral changes, and influencing environmental, health, and employment policies and sectors. Egre Menged has been functioning in Addis Ababa since February 2021. Egre Menged uses bicycles as a powerful tool to create new jobs, protect the environment, promote road safety and NMT, and empower communities. It is a community group that rides bicycles weekly and advocates for a bicycle-friendly city.
Egre Menged Impact has partnered with local bicycle groups and clubs to create a Critical Mass in Ethiopia. Critifcal Mass Addis Ababa envisions celebrating cycling, encouraging communities to use their bicycles, reclaiming the roads for bicycle use, engaging decision-maker bodies to understand the practice of cycling in the city, and creating a more significant awareness among the road users for safety and co-existence. Critical Mass is a monthly social celebration of bicyclists reclaiming the streets. Every last Friday of the month, in the afternoon, thousands of bicyclists gather and cycle together to celebrate non-motorized transportation, create public awareness for bicycles and enjoy a great time. Meeting is at 5 pm (11 pm LT) at Meskel Square. Everyone with a bicycle is warmly welcomed to join. As the sun will set on the way, bring as much lighting and reflection vests as possible. And a helmet is strongly advised! Critical Mass is not a race! It will be a slow pace community ride of meeting new people with the same passion for cycling. Women and kids are highly encouraged to join and riding up front. Originating in San Francisco in 1992, today it is happening in more than 1000 cities worldwide! And now, Addis Ababa is a part of this global movement!