NOMADES is a new bicycle-sharing service introduced in primary schools in Saint-Quentin. Led by the City of Saint-Quentin, the project deploys bicycle fleets directly within schools so that teachers can organise cycling outings with their pupils more easily. By making bikes available on site, NOMADES not only offers an alternative to some existing school transport needs, but also creates new opportunities for trips and educational outings that can be done by bike.
The project responds to several objectives at once. It encourages children to cycle regularly from an early age and helps build familiarity and confidence with cycling as part of everyday life. It also promotes physical activity and inspires more active mobility among pupils, while giving teachers greater freedom to organise school outings in a simple and practical way. In this sense, NOMADES expands what schools can do locally, rather than simply substituting one mode of transport for another.
Beyond the school setting, NOMADES aims to create a new image of cycling in Saint-Quentin through children’s experiences. By embedding cycling into everyday school life, the project helps present the bicycle as a normal, useful and enjoyable way to move around the city. At the same time, it can reduce the carbon footprint of school travel and generate savings by lowering reliance on bus-based outings.
