What do urban cyclists really need to feel safe and generate energy? Everyone on bikes at Maker Faire Rome 2025

Not just pedals and a saddle, two wheels are a choice that is good for everyone

At Maker Faire Rome 2025, two-wheeled mobility has never been so sustainable. The future of cycling is already here.

credits https://ugo.pin.bike/

Ugo, the pedal that saves your bike

It’s called UGO and it’s a smart pedal with GPS, anti-theft device and motion sensors. It was designed by the founders of Pin Bike, an Apulian start-up that has been working for years on sustainable mobility and safety in cities. Its strength lies not only in technology, but also in its vision: to make bicycles an increasingly reliable means of transport, even in urban areas where theft is a deterrent to active mobility. UGO monitors tampering attempts in real time, sends alerts to the owner and keeps track of the routes taken. The project stems from real-life experience and a specific question: what do urban cyclists really need to feel safe? This question led to the creation of a scalable, useful product.

credits Gianmarco Alfonsi

Volt ReCycle Bike and energy

Gianmarco Alfonsi is a maker with a passion for sustainability and active mobility. With the VRB – Volt ReCycle Bike, he offers a kit to transform any bicycle into a portable energy recovery system. While cycling, the energy produced is collected and converted into electricity to recharge devices or power small tools. The whole system is compact, integrable and designed for those who use bicycles as their daily means of transport. The project is the result of years of field testing in schools and laboratories. Alfonsi has a background as an electronics engineer and a particular focus on the environment. His bike is an invitation to get moving, but also to produce.

credits https://www.togetherwerideaps.com/

The bicycle becomes tailor-made freedom: Together we ride

Daniele Pepe has transformed a personal experience into a powerful project: building customised sports prostheses to restore autonomy and movement to people with disabilities. The TOGETHER WE RIDE project stems from his own story: born with a disability, Daniele built the aids he couldn’t find for himself. He then began to make them for others too, creating lightweight, durable, adaptable solutions using 3D printing, recycled materials and ergonomic design. These are not just technical components, but tools for personal empowerment. The prostheses are designed for bicycles, the means of transport that Daniele considers “the most democratic of all”. Pedal assistance is also a challenge to prejudice: every artificial leg is an act of self-determination.

credits https://forum.fabmob.io/t/carenage-souple-auto-gonflable/1574/29

GFG101, a DIY light electric vehicle

Three engineers, Guillermo Fernandez, François Garcin and Guillaume Tartayre, came together to tackle a challenge that was as technical as it was personal: to build a lightweight, handcrafted electric vehicle that would be accessible to everyone. The result was the GFG101, a wooden prototype that combines minimalist design with sustainable engineering, capable of leaning into corners and guaranteeing stability and driving pleasure. The project was developed using readily available materials, open-source documentation and a clear philosophy: mobility can be light not only in weight but also in environmental impact. It is a vehicle, but also a manifesto against the excessive complexity of today’s technology.