World Bicycle Day is a global event proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly, celebrated every 3rd of June. The World Bicycle Day resolution recognizes “the uniqueness, longevity, and versatility of the Bicycle that has been in use for two centuries, and that it is a simple, affordable, reliable, clean and environmentally fit sustainable means of transportation.”
World Bicycle Day is a worldwide day for all, regardless of any character. The bicycle is a ‘symbol of sustainable transport and a supportive message in favor of sustainable consumption and development, and it has a positive effect on the environment.’ “It promotes tolerances and mutual understanding, empathy, social integration, and a culture of peace.” The bicycle also represents “a symbol of sustainable transport.”
*There is no specific theme for World Bicycle Day 2020
History
In April 2018, the United Nations General Assembly declared 3 June of every year as World Bicycle Day and since then it is celebrated worldwide. The Day is the result of the campaign by Leszek Sibilski, and support for World Bicycle Day by Turkmenistan and 56 other states.
Normal, moderately intense physical activity – including walking, cycling, or playing sports – has major health benefits. For all ages, the benefits of physically active exercise outweigh potential damage, such as accidents. Any workout is better than none. By becoming more active all day long, people can easily achieve the desired level of activity.
Secure facilities for walking and cycling are also a way to achieve greater health equity, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Walking and cycling can provide transport for the poorest urban sectors, which often cannot afford private vehicles, while at the same time reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and even death.
Logo of World Bicycle Day
About cycling
The bicycle is an environmentally friendly, fast, inexpensive, efficient, safe, and sustainable transport device. The bicycle can also act as an instrument for growth and for access to education, safety, and sport. The collaboration between the cycle and the rider promotes creativity and social engagement and provides users with immediate knowledge of the local environment.
Significance of World Bicycle Day
World Bicycle Day promotes the Member States to focus their efforts on the bicycle in cross-cutting development strategies and to include it in policies and programs for international, global, national, and sub-national development.
It provides important opportunities to increase and integrate road safety into the planning and design of sustainable and transport infrastructure, particularly through policies and measures for the active protection and promotion of pedestrian safety and mobility to enhance health outcomes in the wider field, particularly injury and non-communicable diseases prevention.
It also highlights and encourages the use of the bicycle, support sustainable growth, to facilitate education, including physical activity, health promotion, disease prevention, mutual understanding and respect, and to foster a culture of peace and social inclusion.
World Bicycle Day encourages efforts to coordinate cycling at national and local levels, as a means of improving physical and mental health and well-being, and the development of a common cycling community within society. It invites different Member States to follow best practices and means to encourage cycling among all the society.
Swikriti Dandotia