Cyclists call for a World Bicycle Day

There’s a world radio day, world meteorological day, and even a world intellectual property day – so why not a world bicycle day?

At least that’s what the World Cycling Alliance (WCA) and European Cyclists Federation (ECF) are asking as they call on the planet’s cyclists to create a #WorldBicycleDay Twitter surge on 28 April (currently the world day for safety and health at work, and world immunisation day), calling for an international day celebrating pedal power.

The purpose of World Bicycle Day would be to promote the role of the bicycle in improving the lives of people and planet, from improving health and reducing carbon emissions to boosting economies, to empowering women and girls.

Bicycles could replace vans and lorries for two thirds of logistic trips +video

The ECF is asking people around the world to tweet a message on 28 April using #WorldBicycleDay, with a reason why we need an international day for cycling.

Some suggestions (with reference to relevant UN sustainable development goals), include:

• More cycling can achieve #SDG5: gender equality and empower all women and girls #WorldBicycleDay
• More cycling can achieve #SDG11: making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable #WorldBicycleDay
• More cycling could save $24 trillion by 2050 #WorldBicycleDay
• More cycling could save 2 gigatonnes of CO2 emission per year #WorldBicycleDay

During recent Paris Climate summit, COP21, the WCA and ECF delivered an analysis to the UN showing the contribution cycling makes to achieving sustainable development goals, when the organisations argued cycling is “of critical importance to humanity and the planet”.