The UCI’s commitment to “Cycling for All”

The world governing body for the sport of cycling, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is committed to promoting and advocating for cycling in all forms across the globe. An overview of the UCI Cycling for All mission and its activities are detailed below.

By: Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)

An elite bicycle race hosted in a region, city or community can prove to be an inspiring moment for citizens and decision makers alike, encouraging a greater inclusion of cycling in all facets of daily life. The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is committed to not only advocate for more bicycle use in all forms, but to create strong links between elite sport and everyday cycling.

With the strategic ambition of developing cycling as the sport of the twenty-first century under the UCI’s Agenda 2022,the UCI recognises the role and importance of elite sport in advocating for more daily cycling.

Elite cycling can act as a catalyst to inspire even greater mass participation, and get many more people using bikes as part of their everyday lives, while we speak out to promote all forms of cycling under Cycling for All, the UCI’s advocacy programme.

We recognise the need to work with partners from across the cycling community, be those grassroot actors, cycling advocacy organisations, NGOs or political leaders. Learning from leading cycling nations such as Denmark can help guide and inspire work in this area.

Given the environmental, health and socio-economic challenges being faced across the world, cycling can play a clear role in ensuring a more sustainable future. At the core of our vision for promoting cycling is a belief that cycling is more than an elite sport or affordable, accessible mode of transport; the bicycle can play a transformative role as a practical tool to confront the common challenges humanity and the planet face.

Guiding work in this area is the UCI Cycling for All Manifesto

UCI Cycling for All Manifesto

In 2017, the UCI released its Cycling for All Manifesto. Guiding work in this area, the Manifesto sets out the UCI ambitions and commitment to promoting Cycling for All. While driving the UCI ambition to act as a voice for cycling, the Manifesto sets out commitments and can be accessed here

Key UCI activities in the area of Cycling for All cover:

• At the political level, the UCI is engaging with policy makers to encourage countries and international organisations to adopt bicycle-friendly policies. We wish to use our leadership position to speak out as positive voice in favour of a more bike friendly world.
• The UCI Bike City & Region label is awarded to cities and regions across the world which are not only hosting elite cycling events, but also investing in everyday cycling actions. The long-term objective is to develop a strong network of UCI Bike Cities and Regions, creating examples around the world of how cities can maximise the impact of sport to help create better, safer cities for all people on bikes, regardless of their age, level of fitness or cycling activity. To receive the label, cities and regions must not only host UCI events but have a clear list of goals and a strategy in place when it comes to cycling promotion. For more information on the label, please visit https://www.uci.org/cycling-for-all/bike-city-label/about-bike-city-label
• The UCI Bike City Forum is an annual event hosted by the UCI. The first edition was delivered in November 2018 at the Pirelli headquarters in Milan (ITA) and brought together more than 100 cycling leaders, advocates, mobility experts, National Federations, industry representatives and policy makers to exchange on the future of active mobility. It also featured a knowledge sharing forum for the UCI Bike City & Region network, allowing for the exchange of projects and best practices with regard to cycling promotion.
• Recognising the global and universal appeal and reach of elite sport, a UCI priority is supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and Agenda for Sustainable Development. We believe cycling can act as a tool for sustainable and inclusive development across the globe. To advance this topic, we are engaging in dialogue and cooperation with the United Nations, development agencies, governments and other actors in this field. As elite cycling and leisure riding continues to grow in popularity in countries across the world, we are working to ensure the bicycle is integrated into the international development process. There is growing recognition of cycling in this area, evident under initiatives such as UN World Bicycle Day on 3 June.
• Our member National Federations on all continents are active partners when it comes to cycling promotion. We work to support their activities and projects in this area, including sharing examples of best practice. By 2020, we are working to see 75% of our 194 National Federations have programmes in place regarding wider cycling promotion.

For more information on the UCI’s efforts, please contact cyclingforall@uci.ch

Twitter: @cycling

The UCI Bike City Forum was an opportunity to exchange on cycling promotion activities © UCI