It’s World Bicycle Day! Leszek Sibilski, a sociology professor at Montgomery College in Rockville, Md., first encouraged the celebration of cycling’s impact on people’s health and mobility in 2015 before working with his students on a grassroots campaign pushing the United Nations to establish an observance day for cycling. Over time, they garnered the support of 57 countries, with the most energetic backer being Turkmenistan.
In 2018, Sibilski and his students got their wish. The U.N. recognized World Bicycle Day, noting in its resolution “the uniqueness, longevity and versatility of the bicycle, which has been in use for two centuries.” It also called out the bicycle’s role in athletics, fostering social engagement, and providing access to local services like health care and education. It encouraged countries and their citizens to support cycling in their communities and build it into public infrastructure to boost public health.
