Bloomberg Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure

BICI Landing Page Hero- Hi Res

The Bloomberg Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure (BICI) is a competitive grant program that fosters catalytic change in city cycling infrastructure around the world.

Successful cities need transportation systems that allow people to move safely, efficiently, and sustainably. Research consistently shows that providing cycling infrastructure brings social benefits that far outweigh its initial investment and that people who bike are healthier and happier. However, a significant barrier to cycling in many cities is the lack of safe bike infrastructure. BICI is designed to help city leaders meet the urgent need to build more innovative, connected, and expansive cycling infrastructure that serves as many residents as possible.

Announced by Bloomberg Philanthropies in June 2023, ten global cities have been awarded support through BICI to build innovative cycling infrastructure and sustainable mobility options for residents. Led in partnership with the Global Designing Cities Initiative (GDCI), in addition to funding to enact their proposals, each winning BICI city will receive technical assistance from GDCI on project development, cycling facility design, data collection, and resident engagement.

The 10 winning BICI cities hail from 10 countries on five continents and collectively represent more than 15 million residents. They include: Fortaleza, Brazil—winner of a $1 million prize—and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Bogotá, Colombia; Lisbon, Portugal; Milan, Italy; Mombasa, Kenya; Pimpri-Chinchwad, India; Quelimane, Mozambique; Tirana, Albania; and Wellington, New Zealand, each of which will receive $400,000 in funding.

The 10 winning projects include:

 

  • Fortaleza, Brazil (winner of the $1 million prize): Develop 180 kilometers of cutting-edge cycling infrastructure to invite more community members to cycle. 
  • Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Double the number of protected cycle lanes to achieve Africa's largest city cycle network.
  • Bogotá, Colombia: Co-design new infrastructure with children to revitalize a low-income neighborhood and engage young residents. 
  • Lisbon, Portugal: Roll-out new solutions to increase the diversity of residents cycling throughout the city. 
  • Milan, Italy: Build sustainable, green cycle lanes that connect over 40 schools.
  • Mombasa, Kenya: Protect and connect a cycle network along key corridors with high cycling volumes.
  • Pimpri-Chinchwad, India: Launch a neighborhood model for a 15-minute city, starting with cycling. 
  • Quelimane, Mozambique: Build new cycling infrastructure that includes protected cycling lanes, pedestrian space, and unique bicycle taxi parking to support non-motorized travel.
  • Tirana, Albania: Create an all-ages cycling network through the implementation of safe intersection design.
  • Wellington, New Zealand: Increase the number of bike lanes in the city by 160 percent using resident input to inform planning and development.

 

Winners were selected from 275 applications submitted between November 10, 2022, and February 3, 2023, from cities with over 100,000 residents. 

For more information, visit Bloomberg.org.