From Annecy to Menton, 1000 kilometers by bike to raise awareness of water pollution
A young woman crossed the Alps by bike to raise awareness of the pollution of waterways and the air. This eco-adventurer arrived this Friday, August 26 in Menton.
992 kilometers by bike… This is the distance covered by Solène Chevreuil, an “eco-adventurer” who raises awareness of water and air pollution. She arrived on August 26 in Menton, and she’s not even tired.
“When the physical starts to pull, there is always the mental: we have time to think when we climb 200 meters of altitude difference“, laughs the young woman of 25 years.
Since his departure from Annecy on July 16, Solène Chevreuil stopped several times a week in villages to organize workshops to measure the quality of water or air.
The association’s project Azure Project does not have the will to produce scientific data but only to raise awareness.
Me, I have a training in foreign languages, I use participatory science tools. The goal is for it to be accessible to everyone and for people to appropriate it on their territory.
says Solène Chevreuil.
With children from nearby summer camps and curious visitors, the eco-adventurer examined the quality of river water by observing the molluscs, insects and crustaceans present in the rivers.
When I explained my approach to locals, what came back above all was: the water, there is no more
Solene Deer
Indeed, Solène Chevreuil really saw the damage caused by the drought during her traveling summer. “I saw mountain people with tears in their eyes saying to me, in this place, there was a glacier“, she says.
During her trip, the resident of Marseille also improved the air quality, thanks to a sensor placed on the bike and provided by Atmosud. “What I noticed is that when I was overtaken by motorbikes or sports cars, there was a big one-time pollution spike.“, describes Solène Chevreuil.
After this experience, which lasted almost two months, Solène Chevreuil barely had time to rest.
From this Sunday, she leaves for a new adventure.
With two other members of the association Projet Azur, she will reach Marseille from Menton by kayak, to raise awareness of plastic pollution.
The life of an eco-adventurer is not easy!