A competition to design the bike racks, which ArcelorMittal Poland will produce from steel recovered from old furnaces liquidated by the Krakow’s residents is about to start. The main prize is implementation of design and PLN 3000 in cash. Ready bike racks made in accordance with the selected design will appear in the city in the autumn. Their locations will be selected by Krakow’s residents via online poll.
- We welcome people with ideas, who would like to design a bike rack for Krakow to join the competition - says Marcin Wójcik, Krakow's Cycling Officer and Jury Member of the competition. - Two things are important, i.e. imagination of the author and the practicality of the idea to assure that designed bike rack is durable, provides comfortable support, and offers possibility to safely lock the bike - he adds. Participants do not have to prepare a detailed technical drawing, because it will be made by a professional before production of racks.
- Steel is a material that can be recycled almost indefinitely. That is why we will use scrap from old furnaces and in Krakow’s ArcelorMittal Poland steel mill we will turn it into steel again, which then will be used for the production of bicycle racks according to winning design. Old furnaces will return to Krakow's residents in completely new form - says Geert Verbeeck, CEO and Vice Chairman of the Board of ArcelorMittal Poland. - For many years now we carry out investments to mitigate the impact of our plants on the environment. We have invested over PLN 3 billion in the modernization of Krakow’s steel mills. Now through the campaign "Jutro bez smogu" (Smog free tomorrow) we join city's Low Emission Reduction Programme, which is the main source of smog - he adds.
To increase motivation of residents to replace old furnaces with ecological sources of heat, the company prepared a cash bonus in the amount of PLN 150 for the first 1,000 people who will replace furnace with the use of funding from the city office.
The organizer of the competition ArcelorMittal Poland founded the cash prizes for the best three designs. The Grand Prize is PLN 3,000. Contest entries can be submitted until May 11 to the following address: konkurs@arcelormittal.com. The jury will select the 3 most interesting designs, and Internet users shall select the best one via online vote. Announcement of results is scheduled for May 28. Mr Paweł Ścigalski, a delegate of the President of the city of Krakow responsible for air quality assumed patronage over the competition. Details about the contest and ArcelorMittal Poland bonus programme can be found here www.jutrobezsmogu.pl.
In the fall Krakow’s residents will be invited to participate in the online poll, in which they will indicate locations for new bike racks. The first bike rack will be installed in Krakow on October 24, i.e. on the International Bicycle Day.
