Urban rodeo: in the city of Bagatelle in Toulouse, two bikers do prevention with young people
Bilel Benamra and Hamza Touinssi, two friends passionate about two wheels, created Pé’Gaz, an association that educates young people about the dangers of urban rodeos.
The two childhood friends know the subject inside out. Together, they participated in dozens of urban rodeos. Bilel Benamra and Hamza Touinssi used their motocross tires in the streets of the Bagatelle district. Today, concerned about the issues related to the practice, they strive to ensure that the followers of the practice see beyond the high towers of the city. In July 2021, the two childhood friends created Pé’gaz prevention.
“We understood that it was dangerous”
With their association, they carry out road prevention in order to reduce traffic accidents and noise pollution among all audiences. “We matured and we understood that doing urban rodeos in the streets is dangerous. And the inhabitants do not have to suffer the nuisances. We want the practice to be exported to secure places, for the pilots and for the others”, laughs Hamza Touinssi, president of the association.
There are many missions. The structure achieves a lot of “going towards”. “We create a link. We go everywhere, in all the priority neighborhoods of the city. We explain to young people that another practice is possible, on suitable grounds. They are receptive to our words because they know that it is complicated to practice their passion in the middle of homes,” says Hamza.
This year, Pé’gaz prevention has organized a few activities such as awareness workshops and outings. Dozens of young people took part. Problem, the lack of financing seizes the projects. If Hamza provides its trailer and some helmets to motorcyclists, the means are insufficient. The presidents of the association have met a handful of elected officials and hope to obtain subsidies from the public authorities in the coming months to continue prevention and strengthen the professional integration that they offer to some.