What Vélo-Cité does

Vélo-Cité (legal name: Vélo-Cité Bordeaux Métropole) is a French non-profit association (association loi 1901) founded in 1980 and headquartered at 16 rue Ausone, Bordeaux, within the Pôle Urbain des Mobilités Alternatives. Its stated mission is the defense and promotion of daily cycling across Bordeaux Métropole. The association runs a portfolio of programs rather than a unified product: a Vélo-école (bike school) operating since 2009 offering lessons for beginners and returners; La Maison Itinérante du Vélo, a participatory mobile bicycle repair workshop on the Right Bank offering technical assistance, Bicycode marking, and TBM bike loans; the Vélo-Cité Pro employer program supporting commuter cycling with individualized coaching and the 'Label Employeurs Vélo' certification; and a slate of training programs (Brevet Initiateur Mobilité Vélo, Formations Aménagements Cyclables).

The organization sustains its activities through three revenue streams: annual membership dues (with voting rights, partner discounts, workshops, and a quarterly bulletin), tax-deductible donations (66% deduction in France), and institutional grants from the Ministry of Ecology, Bordeaux Métropole, and Département de Gironde. GTM is community-led, event-driven, and direct-to-consumer: 10 local antennas recruit members across the metropolitan area, the annual Fête du Vélo (now in its 25th-26th edition), Grande Convergence, Mai à Vélo, Les Lumières de la Ville, and Vélorution protests drive awareness, and partnerships with TBM, Arkéa Arena, Le Rocher de Palmer, JSA Basket, and 12+ vélocistes extend reach. A network of 1,300+ members as of 2021 supports advocacy outputs including the Plaidoyer 2020-2026 and Plaidoyer 2026-2032 policy frameworks, the Baromètre des Villes Cyclables citizen survey, and Vision 2030 strategic plan.

Name

Vélo-Cité

Legal name

Vélo-Cité Bordeaux Métropole

Website

https://velo-cite.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Vélo-Cité is a Bordeaux-based non-profit association founded in 1980 that advocates for daily cycling across Bordeaux Métropole, serving ~1,300 individual members, employers, schools, and seniors through bike education, repair workshops, employer programs, and infrastructure policy advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cycling Advocacy Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

akta.pro primary industry

Bicycle Programs & Bike Share (Parking, Repair, Rentals) (EDALAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Bike Service, Repair & Maintenance Shops (CRAMAHAH)

Keywords

• Cycling advocacy
• Bicycle education
• Mobility training
• Cycling infrastructure
• Community cycling

Headquarters

HQ city

Bordeaux

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Annual membership dues from individual supporters; membership provides voting rights, access to workshops, discounts with partner vélocistes, and bulletin newsletter.
2. Donations: Tax-deductible donations (66% tax deduction in France); donations specifically sought for bike school equipment renewal.
3. Government/Institutional grants: Funding from Ministry of Ecology, Bordeaux Métropole, Département de Gironde, and other public bodies for cycling promotion programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Vélo-Cité is a French nonprofit cycling advocacy association that promotes daily cycling through a vélo-école (bicycle school) for adults, seniors, and youth, employer engagement programs, cycling infrastructure advocacy toward public authorities, and large-scale community cycling events. The association delivers training, education, and outreach across the Bordeaux metropolitan area through 10 local antennas and 1,300+ members.

Product overview

Vélo-Cité is a nonprofit cycling advocacy association founded in 1980 and based in Bordeaux, France. Its offerings are not a unified software product but rather a portfolio of programs and services that collectively advance its mission of defending and promoting daily cycling. The core service offerings include: the Vélo-école (bicycle learning school, operating since 2009) and its associated Brevet Initiateur Mobilité Vélo (IMV) training program; La Maison Itinérante du Vélo (mobile participatory bicycle repair workshop on the Rive Droite) providing repair sessions, Bicycode marking, and TBM bike loans; and the Vélo-Cité Pro employer program for commuter cycling support. These are complemented by a robust event program including Mai à Vélo, the annual Fête du Vélo / Grande Convergence, Les Lumières de la Ville nighttime rides, Mon Concert à Vélo, and Mon Match à Vélo, alongside advocacy initiatives such as the Plaidoyer Cyclable (2026-2032), Vision 2030 strategic plan, the Baromètre des Villes Cyclables, and Vélorution protests. Vélo-Cité also offers technical training on cycling infrastructure (Formations Aménagements Cyclables) and a problem-reporting tool (Cyclofiche). The association publishes a quarterly bulletin and maintains a network of 10 local antenna groups. Revenue comes primarily from membership dues, donations (eligible for 66% tax deduction), and grants from public institutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vélo-école (Bicycle School) Bicycle learning school providing cycling training to adults, seniors, and youth who want to learn or improve daily cycling skills in urban environments. Targeted at individuals seeking mobility through cycling in the Bordeaux metropolitan area.
• Maison Itinérante du Vélo (Mobile Bicycle Workshop) Mobile bicycle workshop and self-repair station that travels across the Bordeaux metropolitan area to help cyclists maintain and repair their bicycles. Open to the general cycling community.
• Vélo-Cité Pro Employer engagement program offering cycling advocacy, training, and consulting services to businesses and public-sector employers to support employees' commuting and professional mobility by bicycle.
• Brevet Initiateur Mobilité Vélo (IMV) Certification training program qualifying participants to become certified cycling mobility instructors. Designed for individuals and professionals who wish to teach cycling skills to others.
• Formations Aménagements Cyclables Professional training program on the design and planning of cycling infrastructure, targeted at local authorities, urban planners, and elected officials responsible for cycling facility development.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14% of metropolitan residents use bike daily or nearly daily (IFOP 2021 survey)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TBM (Transport Bordeaux Métropole)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on bike lending programs (Prêt de vélo), safety campaigns around buses and trams, joint events including 'Mon concert à vélo' at Arkéa Arena and 'Mon match à vélo' with JSA Basket
• Bordeaux MétropolecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary institutional partner for cycling infrastructure advocacy, co-development of ReVE network plan, participant in Schema des Mobilités planning
• FUB (Fédération Française des Usagers de la Bicyclette)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational federation member; co-organized 2020 FUB Congress in Bordeaux; participates in Baromètre des Villes Cyclables national survey
• Arkéa ArenaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for 'Mon concert à vélo' event series allowing concert-goers to bike to events
• JSA Bordeaux Métropole BasketminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports partnership for 'Mon match à vélo' promoting cycling to basketball games
• Maison des Livreurs de BordeauxminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership formed in 2025 to sensitize delivery workers to cycling safety; addresses cargo bike logistics
• CAVENA (Café Vélo Network)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoined CAVENA network, a French cycling café association, expanding ecosystem reach
• FAB Festival International des Arts Bordeaux MétropoleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual collaboration for artistic bike rides through the festival, combining culture and cycling
• Unis-Cité Bordeaux GirondeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Service Civique ambassadeur.drices du vélo program; recruits young volunteers (16-25, up to 30 with disability) for 8-month cycling promotion missions
• Partner vélocistes (bike shops)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor12+ partner bike shops (Boulon Plaquette, Boudebois, Cool Bike, Cycles et Passion, Cyclable Bordeaux, Ecocycles, Ecox Bordeaux, Esprit Cycles, Jean Fourche, Liberty Cycles, Movebike, Rétropédalage) offer 5-10% discounts to members
• DARWINminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCasino group subsidiary hosts cycling village during annual Vélo-Cité events at Darwin ecosystem space
• Le Rocher de PalmerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCultural venue partner for 'Mon concert à vélo' event series

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Vélo Québec: Quebec-based cycling promotion organization combining advocacy, member services, events, and education. While geographically distant, Vélo Québec mirrors Vélo-Cité's combined advocacy-plus-services role within a French-speaking regional ecosystem.
• Pro Velo: Belgian umbrella federation running local chapters (Brussels, Wallonia) with vélo-école, repair workshops, employer programs, and advocacy campaigns - structurally analogous to Vélo-Cité's model but operating in the Benelux context.
• London Cycling Campaign: London-based cycling advocacy organization with 10,000+ members running local groups, campaigns, and infrastructure lobbying; a larger metropolitan-scale analogue of Vélo-Cité's '10 antennas + annual rides + Plaidoyer' model.
• Cycling UK: UK national cycling advocacy and cycling-for-everyone organization with member benefits, infrastructure lobbying, and cycling education programs - the closest large-scale analogue to Vélo-Cité's membership + advocacy + education model in a different national market.

Broad incumbents

• FUB (Fédération Française des Usagers de la Bicyclette): National federation of cycling advocacy associations in France, of which Vélo-Cité is a member. FUB runs the Baromètre des Villes Cyclables survey and national campaigns, providing the federal layer that Vélo-Cité plugs into at the local level.
• ECF (European Cyclists' Federation): European-level umbrella advocating for cycling policy across the EU. Vélo-Cité engages ECF-aligned networks through FUB and through EU-funded modal-shift programs, making it a higher-tier peer in the same advocacy chain.
• AF3V (Association Française pour le développement des Véloroutes et Voies Vertes): National French association focused on cycling route networks (véloroutes, voies vertes) and infrastructure advocacy. Overlaps with Vélo-Cité on infrastructure policy (Plaidoyer, ReVE) but at a national rather than metropolitan scope.

Direct peers

• Paris en Selle: Paris-based cycling advocacy association promoting daily cycling and infrastructure improvements; operates with a similar mix of events, employer engagement, and policy advocacy as Vélo-Cité, but for the Île-de-France capital region.
• Mieux Se Déplacer à Bicyclette (MDB): Long-running Parisian cycling association running vélo-école, repair workshops, and Plaidoyer-style advocacy campaigns - the same program mix that Vélo-Cité deploys in Bordeaux, making it the closest structural peer at the association level.
• Collectif Cycliste 37: Indre-et-Loire (Tours) area cycling advocacy collective running vélo-école, repair workshops, and Plaidoyer-style campaigns - a smaller-scale French regional peer operating with the same nonprofit advocacy association structure as Vélo-Cité.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/velocitebdx
• Facebookfacebook.com/velocite.bordeauxmetropole
• Instagraminstagram.com/velocitebordeauxmetropole

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vélo-Cité