Skip to main content

Cycling in chains?

In France an unusual cycle race has been held, for prisoners. Some 200 felons have been allowed out of the prison walls to race bicycles around the country, while under close watch from prison guards. This 2,300km race is no easy saunter around the park however, starting in the historic city of Lille, passing through 17 towns along the way and finishing in capital Paris. The aim of this unusual project is to help the men reintegrate into society by fostering values such as effort, teamwork and self-esteem,
February 29, 2012 Read time: 1 min
In France an unusual cycle race has been held, for prisoners. Some 200 felons have been allowed out of the prison walls to race bicycles around the country, while under close watch from prison guards. This 2,300km race is no easy saunter around the park however, starting in the historic city of Lille, passing through 17 towns along the way and finishing in capital Paris. The aim of this unusual project is to help the men reintegrate into society by fostering values such as effort, teamwork and self-esteem, according to the organisers.

Related Content

  • Turkey to tender for Izmir-Candarli beltway contract
    November 15, 2016
    Turkish highway authorities will tender construction of the remaining part the Izmir-Menemen-Aliaga-Candarli motorway on 15 February. The contract will be build-operate-transfer for the 76km section between the towns of Aliaga and Candarli. Constructions is expected to take three years. The 16km section between Izmir and Menemen is already finished, according to Turkish media. Up to 60,000 vehicles a day are projected to use the highway from Izmir to Candarli. It is officially called the Otoyol 30
  • Learning record
    June 4, 2019
    Learning record A young driver in Germany managed to be banned from driving a mere 49 minutes after passing his test. Perhaps in jubilation at having passed the test, and no longer having to rely on his friends or ‘dad’s taxi' for transport, the 18 year-old driver inadvisedly pressed pedal to metal. Officers in the town of Hemer, near Dortmund, used a laser unit to determine the vehicle’s speed, seeing that it was travelling at 95km/h in a 50km/h zone. Perhaps he was trying to show his driving skills to hi
  • Road markings initiative for Mexico
    December 3, 2014
    The increasing need for efficient and durable products providing greater road safety is a concern of many authorities around the world, with Mexico being no exception While the Mexican Government seeks to improve the safety of the country’s roads, many companies and local governments are also taking the initiative to make their mark. Over the past decades, cities around the world have experienced rapid urbanisation. The growth of urban centres like Mexico City, coupled with the expansive use of cars as a
  • Diamond in the Pearl: China’s Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge complex
    March 8, 2018
    People in the Pearl River Delta are celebrating the Chinese New Year with the imminent opening of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. David Arminas reviews progress. China’s Spring Festival, or Lunar New Year, is celebrated with the usual enthusiasm and spectacular fireworks. But celebrations will be particularly joyous for many people in the southern Pearl River Delta. The soon-to-be-open Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) will slash travel time between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Zhuh