Bloomberg Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure

Accelerating safe, sustainable cycling infrastructure for healthier cities around the world

Over the past four years, GDCI has partnered with city governments around the world to experiment with innovative new approaches to street use. The research on this is clear: Cities that invest in high-quality cycling infrastructure see dramatic reductions in injury risk to residents.

The next phase of the Bloomberg Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure (BICI) builds upon the success of the inaugural program, which helped cities worldwide deliver more than 200 miles of high-quality cycling infrastructure and trained over 850 practitioners. Developed in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies, the next round of BICI will further accelerate safe and sustainable cycling infrastructure to improve public health outcomes in cities across the globe. Poorly designed streets put cyclists at risk and discourage daily riding. BICI supports cities to build protected, connected cycling networks that reduce injuries and deaths, improve air quality in communities, and enable more people to incorporate physical activity into their daily lives.

BICI will engage up to 25 cities globally to design and implement world-class cycling networks through a two-phase model—combining capacity building, technical assistance, and peer learning opportunities. BICI will strengthen local capability and political will to make cycling a safe and accessible mode of transport for all, resulting in safer, healthier cities across the globe.

The program will launch with a global competition to select 25 cities for capacity-building and planning support, from which 10 cities will advance to receive $400,000 grants and deeper technical guidance to bring their projects to life. The initiative will culminate with the publication of the first-ever global cycling design guide, a landmark supplement to our flagship Global Street Design Guide.

BICI will deliver 10 world-class cycling projects, benefitting more than 15 million people, and training over 1,500 professionals. By supporting the expansion and improvement of over 200 miles of cycling infrastructure, the initiative will drive measurable improvements in safety, health, and climate resilience in cities across the globe —demonstrating that well-designed streets for cyclists are fundamental to healthier, happier cities.

The next round of the Bloomberg Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure will open applications for interested cities on June 3rd, 2026. We encourage all interested cities to sign up for the BICI email list for more details about applying, access to webinars with the BICI team, and to be notified when applications open.

BICI News

PRESS RELEASE: International leaders shine spotlight on Wellington’s street changes

March 18, 2024

PRESS RELEASE: International leaders shine spotlight on Wellington’s street changes

Global giants Janette Sadik-Khan (Transport Principal, Bloomberg Associates and Chair of Global Designing Cities Initiative),  and Salvador Rueda (Director of Urban Ecology Agency of Barcelona) arrived in New Zealand’s capital to back the sustainable street changes that are putting people at the heart of Wellington’s streets.

Announcing the 10 Bloomberg Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure (BICI) Selected Cities

June 8, 2023

Announcing the 10 Bloomberg Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure (BICI) Selected Cities

On Friday, June 2, Bloomberg Philanthropies announced the 10 selected cities for the Bloomberg Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure. Led in partnership with GDCI, BICI will award the selected cities with funding and provide technical assistance on project development, cycling facility design, data collection, and community engagement.

Connect with the GDCI team at Velo-city 2023

May 5, 2023

Connect with the GDCI team at Velo-city 2023

Join us at Velo-city 2023 where GDCI will present at five sessions covering everything from how cycling can foster inclusion, better cycling initiatives for children and caregivers, and how tactical urbanism can change the world. Don't forget to visit us at our booth where you can learn more about our projects in-person.


BICI is made possible by our funder