World Bicycle Day
The bicycle is one of the most beneficial inventions for your personal health and for the health of the environment. Get out and get some sustainable exercise.
Position bicycles and cycling gear as the sustainable, health-forward alternative to motor transport while driving donations and advocacy for bike accessibility in underserved communities.
- Challenge followers to #CycleToWork and share their commute stories
- Partner with nonprofits to highlight how bikes transform lives in developing countries
- Feature eco-impact stats: CO2 saved per bike ride vs. car commute
- Host virtual or in-person group rides to build community and brand loyalty
The United Nations launched World Bicycle Day for several reasons. The first was to recognize the sheer transformative impact of the bicycle on society. Pedal cycles give even the poorest people in the world access to transport services.
The bicycle is a long-serving mode of transportation, which has helped practically every human community worldwide. All cultures and people alike can partake in the celebration and show their love for cycling.
The third purpose is to highlight the fact that many cities ignore the needs of pedestrians and cyclists. Policymakers have a bias towards the motor vehicle, serving its needs instead of using environmentally-sound alternatives.
World Bicycle Day, therefore, is a chance to raise awareness of the benefits of cycling and promote measures to ensure better sharing of the roads. It’s a chance for people to demand improvements to road safety and cycling mobility through a change in policies and measurable activity that protects and promotes the safety of riders and pedestrians.
The fourth purpose is to help save lives and reduce poverty. Investing in pedestrian and cycle routes in cities can help cut the rate of deaths while also taking traffic off the roads and investing in safer modes of intra-city travel. Promoting cycling can also help to reduce poverty.
By giving the poorest members of the community access to transportation, they can more easily commute to places of work. It helps them to achieve greater health equity by reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, some cancers, diabetes, and even death.
Make a Donation
You might want to make a donation to a charity that issues bikes to those who need them. Many nonprofits are looking for ways to increase the number of bicycles that people use in developing countries. Many view it as a cheap solution that makes transporting food and water around much more manageable.
Ride a Bicycle
On World Bicycle Day, you can cycle to work, college or school, on your bicycle instead of using the car. One will be able to avoid traffic jams and the cost of gas. You may find this to be a more enjoyable and stress-free way to get around. There’s no gas money required, and the fresh air will feel wonderful! Using a bicycle will help cut down on CO2 emissions as well. It’s also an excellent way to get some exercise and stay healthy. There’s no denying the feeling one has after being out in nature and exerting some pent up energy. Someone can also encourage others to use this means of transportation by inviting a companion to ride a bike with them to a friend’s house or to run errands.
Share with Others
Encourage other people to use their bicycles to get around town by sharing World Cycle Day hashtags on social media. More and more people are engaging online and wanting to express themselves through these social media platforms. It’s possible that together individuals will be able to make this cause go viral and make impactful changes to the environment and wellness of each other.
Advocate for Bicycles
Celebrate and participate in World Bicycle Day by lobbying to local government to improve cycle and pedestrian mobility in the city. Attend a meeting in the area to voice concerns and recommendations for making bicycling around town easier and more accessible to those in the community. All it takes is a few individuals who are willing to speak up and express viewpoints around this topic to inspire and motivate change.
Get Involved
It’s clear that World Bicycle Day is something that anyone can get involved with, even if they don’t ride a bike. Communities will thrive, individuals will be in better health, and the environment will take a turn for the better when cycling becomes the focus. There are so many positive results that emerge from World Bicycle Day that it’s certainly worth celebrating. It’s an opportunity to spark more appreciation for this simple yet beneficial means of transportation and to get everyone thinking about all the good reasons cycling should receive acknowledgment and public attention.