World Bicycle Day is celebrated every year to promote simple, affordable, reliable, clean and eco-friendly sustainable transportation. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared June 3rd as World Bicycle Day in April 2018.
Background:
i.Professor Leszek Sibilski of the United States(US) and his Sociology class led the grassroots campaign sponsored by Turkmenistan and 56 other countries, to promote the UN Resolution – to designate June 3rd as World Bicycle Day.
ii.This day comes under the adaptation of the UN General Assembly Resolution A/70/L.1 (Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development) as the agenda for enabling Sustainable Development.
Objectives of World Bicycle Day:
i.To promote the use of bicycles as a sustainable development programme to promote road safety, health, prevention of diseases and strengthen mental health.
ii.To encourage the member States to focus on bicycles as a cross-cutting development strategy and to include it in international, regional, national and subnational development programmes.
iii.To adapt the practice of bicycling and organise bicycle rides to develop the cycling culture in society.
Benefits of Cycling:
i.Physical activities like walking and cycling are considered to provide prominent health benefits to all the age groups.
ii.WHO considers that the infrastructure for cycling and walking will enable in achieving health equity and reduce the risks of heart diseases, stroke etc.
iii.The promotion and investments in pedestrians and cyclists will solve the environmental issues due to carbon emission and will improve road safety and air quality.
About UN General Assembly:
President- Tijjani Muhammad Bande
Under-Secretary General- Movses Abelian
