Climate change: United Nations adopts resolution encouraging use of bicycles

On Tuesday, the 193 members of the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution promoting bicycles as a strategy for combating climate change.

Turkmenistan proposed the resolution, which was voted unanimously and, like other General Assembly resolutions, was non-binding.

The United Nations urged member states to incorporate bicycles into public transit in both urban and rural settings in both developing and developed countries.

The resolution stated that expanding cycling through increased road safety and bike-riding promotion will aid in achieving “sustainable development, including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.”

More specifically, the resolution urged member states to prioritise cycling in cross-cutting development strategies, such as bicycle-sharing services, as well as in international, regional, national, and subnational development policies and programs whenever possible.

Bicycles, in addition to being zero-emission vehicles, are known to encourage healthy lives by exercising the body while riders peddle the pedals.

Furthermore, when alternatives are examined, the high rate of traffic congestion and rising temperatures produced by an increasing number of other cars would be substantially decreased.