The Healthy Cycling Challenge

Launched in April by the Cities for Better Health initiative (Novo Nordisk), together with the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF), the Healthy Cycling Challenge is a global call for innovative and ready-to-implement initiatives that leverage cycling as an active mode of transport, and as a tool for promoting public health, environmental sustainability and social equity in urban neighbourhoods.
 

Road so far

The Healthy Cycling Challenge attracted over 240 applications from across more than 45 countries, out of which six were shortlisted to proceed to a final round. The finalists received tailored support to strengthen their proposals before pitching their final proposals to a selection panel of experts. Three winners have now been selected to receive grants of 100,000 USD each to implement their solutions, fostering real change in urban communities.
 

Elin Jäger, Senior Vice President, Chief of Staff and Head of CEO Office, Corporate Strategy & Sustainability at Novo Nordisk: “The Healthy Cycling Challenge demonstrates the power of strategic partnerships in addressing the interconnected challenges of chronic diseases, health equity, and climate resilience. By working with the European Cyclists' Federation and local communities, we're supporting innovative, community-led solutions that make cycling safer and more accessible. This partnership reflects Novo Nordisk’s commitment to prevention and our belief that no single actor can address the global burden of chronic diseases alone. We must work across sectors to drive meaningful impact at the community level.”
 

Laurianne Krid, CEO, European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF): “The Healthy Cycling Challenge has shown the creativity and determination of local communities around the world to use cycling as a driver of healthier, fairer, and more sustainable communities. We at ECF are very inspired by our ongoing partnership with Cities for Better Health, which enables us to support these three outstanding projects, demonstrating how grassroots leadership, innovation, and partnership can deliver real change on the ground.”
 

Meet the winners

Pedalando Juntas | Community bike-sharing systems in favelas in São Paulo | Brazil

Led by Instituto Caminhabilidade, Pedalando Juntas is a resident-led project offering free community-shared bicycles in favelas in São Paulo to promote mobility and connection, especially for women and children accessing the nearby Pinheiros River park.  The initiative was co-created with residents and already piloted in Peinha, and is now set to expand to two more communities. Both initiatives are developed by Lab Rio Pinheiros, an initiative of Instituto Caminhabilidade which aims to transform the riverbanks into public spaces that are accessible, inclusive, and welcoming to all.

Leticia Sabino, Founder and Director of Instituto Caminhabilidade: “We are very happy to have been selected among so many great and relevant projects around the world! We understand the responsibility of creating a truly transformative project, especially so that women and children can move actively through cities and have access to green spaces and leisure. We also hope it can serve as an example and be replicated in many contexts. This initiative also gives us the opportunity to share knowledge, processes, and lessons learned with other organizations in different cities.”
 

 
Pedalea Seguro | Urban Cycling for Healthier and More Inclusive Cities | Peru

Lead by the Peruvian Society for Environmental Law, Pedalea Seguro is a project aimed at strengthening urban cycling in Peru through data management, tactical urbanism, legal analysis support, and community engagement. Launched already last year, the initiative will be scaled up to three cities Lima, Tacna, and Trujillo and will map cycling infrastructure to design digital dashboards, install tactical urbanism interventions with youth cyclist activists, analyse urban mobility policy to suggest improvements, and strengthen the leadership and capacity of urban youth collectives.

Carolina Butrich, Conservamos por Naturaleza's Manager, Peruvian Society for Environmental Law (SPDA): “It is a tremendous honor and opportunity for us to be one of the three winners of the Healthy Cycling Challenge. This recognition will help us advance sustainable mobility in three Peruvian cities, working hand in hand with cycling collectives to defend the right to a sustainable, human, and safe city.”
 

 
Pedal Paathshala | Community Learning on Wheels | Nepal

Lead organisation by Cycle City Network Nepal (CCNN) Pedal Paathshala is a community-based project designed to address obesity and physical inactivity among children and women, in marginalised communities of Bharatpur, Chitwan. Pedal Paathshala combines cycling education for women, teachers and children with a school-based bicycle library system across ten schools. Weekly rides and safe cycling trails will help children adopt active habits, while empowering women as cycling instructors ensures lasting change for both health and social equity.

Chakshu Bikram Malla, President, Cycle City Network Nepal (CCNN): “Super stoked to be a winner of the Healthy Cycling Challenge 2025. We are very excited to collaborate with students and women of Bharatpur, Chitwan to cultivate a bicycle culture and create healthier urban neighborhoods.”
 

Looking ahead

The Healthy Cycling Challenge marks only the beginning of these projects’ journeys. Over the coming months, the three winning initiatives will receive financial support, mentoring, and international visibility to help them grow and inspire replication worldwide. By investing in community-led cycling solutions, Novo Nordisk and the European Cyclists’ Federation aim to demonstrate how healthier urban futures can be built from the ground up — one neighbourhood, one bicycle, and one empowered community at a time.

For questions: Froso Christofides, Director Members & Networks, [email protected]