From a Bike-Centric Conference to Human-Centric Cities in the Global South

Written by Juliana DeCastro | Velo-city Scholarship Program

“The future of cycling doesn’t start with cycling but with creating more humane cities.” During one of the plenaries at the Velo-city 2024 conference (Fig.1), Meredith Glaser, CEO of the Urban Cycling Institute, invites us to rethink how we understand and organize our cities. The proposal is clear: urban transformation must place people’s needs at the center, requiring the participation of all sectors of society. In this sense, this is not limited to “velocitizens”—those passionate about a more cycle-inclusive worldview—but extends to all who desire a healthier and more sustainable future.

Glaser’s idea resonates with the work of several thinkers who discuss the complexity of interconnections in cities. A notable example is Michael Batty, who in The New Science of Cities reminds us that cities function as networks of flows and connections. In this context, mobility is not just a means of getting around, but a vital element for the health of the urban system. This leads us to rethink the quality of life and the right to access the city in a new light: not just analyzing it in parts, but considering the whole system to solve the complex challenges we face. To do this, we need to shift our perspective from a purely analytical approach to a systemic one, which allows us to solve complex problems emerging from the interdependence between the subsystems that make up the urban ecosystem.

To make this concept more tangible, I want to highlight two principles that, although well-known, are still little explored at global events such as Velo-city 2024: Health in All Policies (HiAP) and Placemaking (Fig. 2). Both principles are intrinsically present in the speeches of the conference participants, from different perspectives and practices.

• Health in All Policies (HiAP): This concept invites us to integrate health into all political decisions. Instead of treating health as an isolated sector, we need to consider how each policy can impact the health of the population and the urban ecosystem. This means looking for synergies and avoiding decisions in areas such as urban development, mobility systems, housing and the environment, among others, that have negative effects on health.
  
• Placemaking: This involves transforming urban spaces into people-centered places, where active mobility is holistically integrated with other aspects of urban life. Placemaking provides a tool that engages the community in reimagining their spaces, creating environments that foster social interaction and promote well-being. This, in turn, fosters discussions about redesigning public spaces where people of all ages, abilities, and socioeconomic backgrounds can not only access and enjoy a place but also play a key role in its identity, creation, and maintenance. In other words, public space is conceived and measured beyond its physical attributes (infrastructure); it serves as a vital community resource, enhancing connections and networks that influence the physical, social, emotional, and ecological health of individuals and communities everywhere.

These concepts presented above resonate again in the discussion presented by Glaser and Brömmelstroet (2020), who see conferences like Velo-city as essential moments for mixing social, spatial, and sensory learning. These knowledge exchanges are fundamental for developing more effective urban policies. However, there is still a significant gap in how these ideas are transferred to the Global South.

The Role of Evaluation Tools like HEAT in NDC Goals

Evaluating the impact of active mobility policies on health and climate goals is crucial, and to this end, the Health Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT), developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), plays a vital role. HEAT allows cities and governments to calculate the economic benefits of health improvements resulting from increased use of active modes, such as cycling and walking. In the Brazilian context, where the uberization of work and the growth of per capita motorization threaten to exacerbate socio-spatial inequalities, using a tool like HEAT can strengthen the argument for more ambitious policies in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), promoting active mobility as a central pillar in combating climate change.

This approach is reinforced by the Convergent Agenda for Sustainable Mobility and Health of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO, 2022), which emphasizes the need for integration between mobility, physical activity, and air quality (Fig. 3). Aligned with this, the Global Action Plan for Physical Activity 2018-2030 (WHO, 2018) highlights the importance of promoting more active people for a more active world, proposing four areas of action: creating active societies, active environments, active people, and active systems. This comprehensive approach aims to contribute directly to achieving many of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

It’s important to note that physical inactivity is one of the main risk factors for mortality from non-communicable diseases, and WHO regularly monitors trends in this aspect. Globally, there are notable age and gender differences in levels of physical inactivity, influenced by various individual factors and broader social, cultural, environmental, and economic determinants. These factors affect access and opportunities to be active in safe and enjoyable ways.

Complementing this vision, the Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023 by WHO indicates that road safety is a crucial aspect for promoting active transport modes, evidencing the need for policies that prioritize people’s health and safety. This integrated approach underscores the importance of considering multiple aspects when promoting active mobility, from economic and health benefits to safety and accessibility, to create healthier and more sustainable cities.

The Brazilian Reality: Challenges of the Global South

While European cities like Ghent are moving towards car-free urban centers, Brazil is following the opposite trajectory. According to data from the Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA, 2021), the number of motorcycles in Brazil has grown exponentially over the last two decades, with a direct impact on carbon emissions and road safety⁠. ⁠The Global Road Safety Report 2023 highlights that countries in the Global South have the highest traffic mortality rates, a problem that approaches such as avoid-shift-improve (ASI) could help mitigate by reducing demand for motorized transport and prioritizing more sustainable alternatives⁠.

This growth in motorization reflects a huge dependence on motorized transport and a significant drop in the use of public transport, not accompanied by a proportional increase in the use of active modes such as cycling and walking. This reality contrasts with the ideal of car-free urban centers and with efforts to combat climate change, as evidenced by the mapping carried out by the Partnership for Active Travel and Health (PATH).

Brazil is going against the grain of its own National Urban Mobility Policy (Federal Law 12.587/2012), as evidenced by the significant increase in the fleet of combustion vehicles, especially motorcycles, which are widely used for informal work. This dependence on motorized transport, driven by the “uberization” of work, not only reinforces an unsustainable model of mobility but also exacerbates problems such as climate racism.

Strengthening Representativeness and Fostering Connections with the Global South

Given the specific challenges faced by countries like Brazil, addressing urban mobility and public health requires integrating perspectives on gender, accessibility, and social justice. In this context, Velo-city 2024 made strides by bringing these issues to the forefront in several presentations, particularly during session 6.6: From Research to Practice: How Cycling Can Enable Mobility Justice. For instance, Inês Sarti Pascoal’s presentation on the inclusion of a gender perspective in bicycle mobility policies in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area highlighted how gender equality is fundamental to mobility justice. Similarly, the experience of Amsterdam, presented by Bárbara Oliveira Soares in “Cycling Paradise but for whom? Amsterdam’s pursuit to Mobility Justice,” demonstrated the importance of inclusion and social justice in creating fairer cities. Juliana Betancur Arenas’ presentation further expanded this discussion by addressing barriers to women’s cycling participation in marginalized areas like the Brussels Canal (Fig. 4).

Such discussions highlight the growing recognition of diverse perspectives in urban mobility planning. However, for the Global South, the challenge is even greater, as the solutions must not only address gender and social justice but also take into account broader socio-economic disparities and infrastructure limitations. This is where international initiatives like Novo Nordisk’s Healthy Cities Challenge, in partnership with the global C40 Cities network, become crucial. By focusing on the needs of marginalized communities, these initiatives provide critical insights for building more equitable cities. The challenge, aimed at innovative and scalable solutions for health and well-being, underscores the need to integrate a social justice perspective into all urban planning and mobility initiatives. Isabelle Clement, Director of Wheels for Wellbeing, reinforced this view during Plenary 1: Connecting through Cycling, where she stated, “Cycling is not just a privilege, but an accessible and empowering option for everyone” (Fig. 5).

Strengthening representation from the Global South in these discussions is essential. By fostering connections between diverse regions and realities, conferences like Velo-city can pave the way for more inclusive and adaptable solutions to urban mobility challenges. This, in turn, can lead to the development of innovative, context-sensitive policies that address the specific needs of the Global South, while promoting active mobility as a driver for social and environmental justice.

The integration of the Health in All Policies (HiAP) concept, as outlined in the PAHO Convergent Agenda on Urban Mobility and Health (2020), along with the avoid-shift-improve (ASI) approach, is crucial to strengthening evidence-based policies that recognize the intersections between mobility, public health, and social justice. To overcome existing gaps, international collaboration and the building of research and advocacy networks are essential. Platforms like the Global Healthy Sustainable Cities Observatory, Data LAC Urban Health, and publications such as ITDP’s The Atlas of Sustainable City Transport provide valuable resources for connecting researchers and fostering the production of evidence-based knowledge. These resources enhance the replicability, comparison, and adaptation of these experiences across various contexts, from technical capacity to data processing infrastructure

In particular, the I2L2 framework — Impact, Influence, Leverage, and Learning — developed by ORS Impact, offers a valuable approach for evaluating and implementing systemic changes. At Velo-city 2024, my participation underscored not only the importance of sustainable urban mobility but also how this framework can be effectively applied to the work of the Aromeiazero Institute. A clear example is the Pedala Macaé project, which, after three years of continuous efforts, culminated in the report Bicycle in Sustainable Development – Assessment of Bicycle Culture and Economy in the City of Macaé (RJ). The I2L2 framework provides a robust tool for assessing and understanding the impact of such systemic change initiatives. Drawing from my experience at Velo-city 2024, parallels can be made between the framework’s principles and the ongoing work at Aromeiazero.

Velo-city 2024 served as a fertile ground for exchanging experiences and learning about urban mobility. Yet, the future of active mobility will depend on broadening the global dialogue, with a strong emphasis on elevating voices from the Global South. Projects like Pedala Macaé, undertaken by Aromeiazero, are already playing a key role in this transformation. To further this progress, strengthening global advocacy networks and ensuring greater representativeness are essential to addressing the specific challenges faced by cities in the Global South.

The Convergent Agenda for Mobility and Health, along with the I2L2 framework, exemplifies how global collaborations can foster local solutions with meaningful impacts on people’s lives. Events like Velo-city 2024 are instrumental in strengthening these networks, but ensuring that all voices, particularly those from the Global South, are heard remains crucial.

An Ambitious Vision for the Future of Active Mobility

Building on the discussions from Velo-city 2024, it is clear that rethinking the future of active mobility must go beyond infrastructure—it must address its relationship with public health, climate justice, and social equity. To achieve this ambitious vision, it is crucial to widen the space for voices from the Global South, ensuring that the solutions proposed are not only innovative but also adaptable to local realities.

Tools like the Health Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT) and the Health in All Policies (HiAP) agenda provide essential frameworks for aligning active mobility policies with ambitious climate and health targets. In regions like the Global South, where socio-economic disparities often hinder policy implementation, such tools can bridge the gap, helping countries achieve their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Ultimately, the future of active mobility lies in its ability to address both global and local challenges, with a particular focus on the realities of the Global South. Initiatives like Aromeiazero’s Pedala Macaé are proof that, with the right frameworks and international support, it is possible to foster more inclusive, healthy, and sustainable cities. However, moving forward, it is crucial that discussions about urban mobility continue to prioritize the voices and experiences of those from the Global South to ensure truly equitable progress.

Velo-city 2024 provided a platform for exchanging experiences and ideas about the future of urban mobility, but the journey is far from over. As we move forward, expanding dialogue, fostering inclusivity, and creating context-sensitive solutions will be key to achieving a future where active mobility plays a central role in both climate action and social justice. The Global South, with its unique challenges and opportunities, must be at the forefront of this conversation, ensuring that the solutions we develop are not only sustainable but also equitable.

A word from the author:

The grant awarded by the Urban Cycling Institute with support from Zicla, as well as the entire team at the Aromeiazero Institute and the European Cyclists’ Federation for the renewed opportunities to exchange experiences, learn and make new connections made possible through my participation in yet another edition of the Velo-city Conference.