vélopolitaine is a start-up created in January 2024 to respond to the issues of cycling mobility, cultural, tourism and eco-responsible sports innovations. It is incubated at Paris&Co and selected for the Paris de l'innovation 2024. Vélopolitaine is developing the rolling', a bicycle-mobile tool for tourism, cultural and sports mediation.
vélopolitaine supports public and private operators to develop a reasoned bicycle policy at all scales: from the development of the large territory to the design of the puncture-proof tire.
We study the adaptation and transformation of existing networks and, if necessary, we recommend the creation of engineering structures to overcome certain urban cuts related to motorways or railways. Mapping of cycling facilities.
Drawing and realization of mobile and immobile objects. Development of covered parking (hoops and bicycle shelters), construction of bicycle silos. Catalog solutions adapted to the field or custom design. Technical and security consideration. Integration into the design of uses and flows but also of the soil and basements. Valorization of urban identity.
3D design, meshing, structural calculation (static, dynamic and vibratory), definition drawing, rapid prototyping in 3D printing (plastics, metal, alumide).
Creation of functional prototypes made with materials conforming to the series (machined, injected, laser cutting) Realization of small and medium series.
Test bed in collaboration with approved organizations like CRITT.
vélopolitaine carries out all prospective and operational studies related to bicycle mobility: historical research of routes, urban and landscape feasibility, master plan for bicycle facilities, employer mobility plan (PDM), master plan for bicycle staking, design of a visual identity of the bike plan, urban design, cultural programming, awareness and consultation.
vélopolitaine with its partners implements the complete operational self-service bike system (bike, stations, maintenance).
vélopolitaine is a team of professionals committed to ensuring that all cycling mobility (mechanical cycles, electric, cargo ships, cargo bike, scooters and intermediate vehicles) develop as daily transport, logistics, sports and tourism. The bike plan is certainly a major challenge facing global warming and to decarbonize our environment, but it is above all a magnificent hope for thinking, transforming and redesigning our cities of today and tomorrow.
Sarah Bitter uses an electrically power assisted bicycle (EPAC) on all her professional and personal trips in Grand Paris. Graduated from the Ecole Nationale d'Architecture de Versailles in 1996, Sarah is a specialist in the transformation of cities with 18 years of experience. She began her career at GKV Architects in New York, then co-founded the architectural firm METEK in 2000, of which she has been managing director ever since. At the same time, she is an associate lecturer at ENSA Paris-Malaquais. In 2017, she started the rolling' project and co-founded vélopolitaine in 2024 to structure the growth of this initiative, where she is CEO.
Graduated from the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers in 1991, Didier is a design engineer with more than 33 years of experience and a member of the Association Cycliste Trévoloise. He began his career at Assystem and remained there for 13 years before founding his own general mechanics design office. For more than 20 years, Didier has been managing the Biron Études office located in Guyancourt and in 2024, he joined forces with Sarah to create the vélopolitaine company of which he holds the position of Managing Director.
Christophe Demantké practices cycling on a daily basis in intermodality. Graduated from the Ecole Spéciale d'Architecture in 2010, Christophe is a specialist in innovative solutions and design. He joined Sarah at the METEK agency in 2009 where he began his career. He has been an architect designer for 15 years. Within the agency, he contributes to the development of the rolling' project. In 2024, he co-founded vélopolitaine, where he is Director of Innovation.
The ephemeral, the horizon and the plants constitute the moving spine of Vincent Lahache. The movement permeates his professional practice and his career. If the landscape is the heart of his development from 2004, dance played a central place in his life (choreographer and performer between 1992 and 2004). He mixes practices by regularly creating bridges and dialogues between dance and landscape and more generally arts and landscape. He co-founded the Plastique Danse Flore festival with Frédéric Seguette. He was responsible for the Nature and gardens service for the commune of Charenton-le-Pont, the landscaped areas of Parc Rousseau in Ermenonville and the ecological and educational garden “Les Jardins Passagers” located within the Parc de la Villette in Paris.
Daniel Jauslin divides his time between Zurich and Marly-le-Roi, where he is teacher at ENSAP Versailles. Since 1999, he has managed the DGJ Landscapes agency, specializing in infrastructure and public space projects in France and Switzerland from 2011. The latest notable projects are the design of the University of Paris-Est Créteil and the cycle bridges projects in Zurich and Saint-Gall. Since his years of doctoral studies at TU Delft and UR Wageningen in the Netherlands, soft mobility accessibility has been at the heart of his practice and his academic research. In 2022, Daniel attended the Copenhagenize Masterclass in Paris.
Bas Koppers is Dutch, so he is a natural cyclist! Since 2014, he has designed inclusive public spaces for cyclists and safe cycle paths. He is heavily involved in consultations with local residents; for example, he organized the process for the implementation of the new cycle section between the city of Amsterdam and Amstelveen. Parisian since 2020, he joined DGJ Landscapes in 2023 where he puts his Dutch expertise into prospective and operational cycling projects that combine infrastructure and landscape.
2023
URBAN DESIGN
MEDIATION
Project Manager : vélopolitaine (Metek + BET Biron)
Client : Versailles Grand Parc Tourist and Convention Office
► the rolling' is a showcase, an office, a bookstore, a display counter, a signal, a welcoming place, a rallying and meeting point.
► the rolling' is equipped with inertia brakes and can travel for kilometers on the road towed by an electrically assisted bicycle.
► the rolling' is a zero-emission vehicle made from recyclable materials manufactured in France.
la-rolling.com
2022
Cycling
INFRASTRUCTURE
PM : vélopolitaine (DGJ Landscapes) + Basler & Hofmann Engineers, nau2 Architects
Client : Aurora, Canton and City of St Gall, SENN Developement
Phase : Bidding
Competition winner
► "Unterer Graben" connects the UNESCO Historic Site St Gallen through St Mangen's Park to HSG University
► The elevated path becomes a panoramic walk through varied spatial sequences: urban district, park, exiting road, parking lot and residential district.
► With a total length of approximately 127 m, the route corresponds to the shortest path.
► DGJ Paysages has decided to preserve the monumental park of the twentieth century in the south and to install a trompe l'oeil copy of plants in the north.
2023
MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING
PM : vélopolitaine (BET Biron)
Client : Smovengo
Phase : Studies and manufacturing
► The intensive use of self-service bicycles requires rapid, innovative, ingenious and economical technical interventions.
► Since 2019, BET Biron has been developing technical solutions (studies and manufacturing) for the maintenance of terminals and all components of mechanical and power assisted bicycle (EPAC).
2018
Architecture
bike shelters
PM : vélopolitaine proxy (Metek)
Client : Elogie-Siemp
Phase : Finish
Cost : 5,2 M€
► In this housing program, we question the uses: how to access your bike quickly, move around with your bike in common areas without having to handle it in a restrictive manner, have enough space to tinker with or repair your bike.
2021
Cycling
INFRASTRUCTURE
PM : vélopolitaine (DGJ Landscapes)
+ DSP & Conzett Bronzini Engineers, Knight Architects
Client : City and Canton of Zurich
Phase : Finalist competition
► The new section of the pedestrian and cycle development of districts 4 & 5.
► Connecting the arches of the viaduct, which have become a tourist attraction, with an express cycle route of the cantonal network.
► Networking of green spaces and a new urban experience with a special charm.
► The frame beam is not a formal element. Its strong presence serves as orientation for non-motorized traffic, allows decisive rigidity during use and optimal arrangement of bridge lighting as well as the integration of benches.
2021
urbant
planning
PM : vélopolitaine (Metek)
Client : Faire Paris
Phase : Competition
► Lessphalt is a user guide to help restorers transform parking spaces into parklets with technical, aesthetic and environmental tools.
► Lessphalt is an alternative to layering earth – asphalt – floor covering (wooden decking or synthetic turf) – flowerpot.
► Lessphalt offers a return to the earth according to a concerted protocol for each space used on the terrace.
► Lessphalt helps reduce urban heat islands with planted areas in open ground that are permeable to rainwater.
2023
technological
innovation
PM : vélopolitaine (Bet Biron)
Manufacturer : Continental
Phase : Research and prototyping
► A new puncture-proof wheel based on a concept of composite structures adaptable, without modification, to commercial rims.
► A search for technical economy for simplicity of assembly, maintenance and dismantling.
36, rue du fer à Moulin, 75005 Paris,
+33 (0)6 07 03 65 97,
velopolitaine|at|velopolitaine.com
