BYCS

Check out our new blog, which dives into how cycling culture is represented on the big screen tracing fan favorites such as E.T, Stranger Things and the famous Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, the implicit meaning these shows were strengthening and what that has meant for society. Find it on our website under the “NEWS” section. Happy reading!

International Women’s Day may have passed, but let’s take a moment to highlight how our female Bicycle Mayors celebrated women on two wheels.

Jacki Patrickson, Bicycle Mayor of Durham, participated in a ride for women cycling in the North East of England. While biking along side powerful and strong women she mentions it was a “fabulous day of sisterhood”.

Hande Kurt, Bicycle Mayor of Istanbul, set up a cycling feminist tour starting at sunrise (5 am!) from the European centre (Beşiktaş) to the old city (Eyüp Sultan). She and her crew pedaled for the women out there who couldn’t, who take care of us, who are approaching adult life… she pedaled for us all.

Vera Diogo, Bicycle Mayor of Porto, led a bike ride protest for more inclusivity in cities that led directly into the Women’s day march.

Alison Stewart, Bicycle Mayor of Toronto, hosted a very successful 2nd Annual Femme Friendly Bike Fair. The program was filled with presentations, fun activities and opportunities to learn to bike.

Are you a Bycicle Mayor and also want to feature your story in the next post? Then head on over to our bio and fill out the form!

STARTbox has been launched!🚲

At the moment, over a third of children in the Netherlands aged 4 to 11 do not meet the recommended daily exercise guidelines, according to WHO.

By supporting daycare centers and primary schools the STARTbox encourages children of those ages to make cycling part of everyday life.

What is it?
An interactive educational box for children aged 2-6 and their caregivers, filled with two bikes, Flammie (a stuffed flamingo friend), two journals, a manual, tips for cycling safely, a repair kit and more…

Interested to read more about the STARTbox? Read more in our blog: “THE STARTBOX: A TOOLKIT FOR PLAYFUL EXERCISE AND CYCLING FOR YOUNG CHILDREN” in the news section on our website (link in bio)

We are happy to announce that the latest BYCS newsletter just dropped.

This month is all about reflecting back to push forward. Inside, you’ll find lessons from our advocacy work coming out soon, exciting program updates and announcements and stories from Bicycle Mayors around the world.

Go check your inbox! And if you’re not subscribe yet, follow the link in our bio and be part of the community so you don’t miss out next time!

Happy International Women's Day to all the incredible, unstoppable, and amazing women out there!
At BYCS, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate the very backbone of our organization, the women who keep the wheels turning every single day.
A huge thank you to:
Maud, BYCS’ co-founder and CEO, her beliefs are simple: bicycles transform cities, and cities transform the world. She sets aspirational goals for the organisation and pushes us to do our best every single day.
Romee, our Project Coordinator and Bicycle Mayor of Amsterdam who loves to develop, coordinate, and implement projects that align with BYCS' global mission to foster cycling culture in creating safer, bike-friendly cities.
Mona, BYCS’ Marketing and Communications Manager who got inspired by her experience of transport poverty in Egypt which pushed her to address mobility inequality and share the real stories of how bicycles help children, women and communities thrive everyday.
Nienke, a Project Manager who not only develops and implements projects that foster cycling culture, but also addresses complex urban challenges, from how people perceive space to how slow transport builds community ownership.
Clara, BYCS Projects and Grants Coordinator who contributes her skills to writing and identifying new opportunities, helping BYCS secure funding for impactful projects that create livable and thriving communities.
Michela, our Network and Development Manager, who manages the global Bicycle Mayor Network, connecting and supporting local advocates across the world who drive real change in their cities.
Ginevra, our Communications and Content intern, who explores visual storytelling and design to engage and attract more people in the cycling movement.
Thank you for everything you contribute to our mission, and to the team.

A Happy New Year from BYCS! ✨

As we step into a new year, we’re grateful for our global community of Bicycle Mayors, international partners, on-the-ground implementation partners, and advocates who continue to show what’s possible when communities lead change. A new year brings new beginnings, and with that, exciting programme updates ahead. Keep an eye out as we continue working towards healthier, happier, more people-centred cities together 🚲

CYCLING IS CAREGIVING

Anna Genser, Bicycle Mayor of Cologne, shared her caregiving journey. This journey is real, relatable and messy, yet it reads almost like poetry — a beautifully realistic rhythm of family, movement, and independence made possible by the bicycle.

“home - daycare - office, office - home, home - orthodontist. Child nr. 2 doesn’t turn up as planned at orthodontist - slightly worried ride home - daughter turns up 10 minutes later - has forgotten appointment, managed to get last minute new appointment 40 minutes later. Daughter cycles independently to orthodontist, while I ride to daycare to pick up child n’ 3. Daycare - orthodontist to hold hand of child nr. 1. Orthodontist - home, pack swimming bags for child nr. 2 and 3. Home - swimming pool, later swimming pool - Home = 30km. Would I have managed this by car? Definitely not!”

Today is Black Friday (as you may have noticed) - what does that mean for cities, communities, and particularly, caregivers?

We are likely familiar with the ethical issues of fast fashion sweatshops in Bangladesh, e-vehicle battery mineral mining in Congo, and dangerous working practices forced on the Global South. What we often forget is that it is the children, women and caregivers, that are carrying the weight. The same people exploited across global supply chains are the ones keeping families, neighbourhoods, and cities functioning, while simultaneously facing the harshest impacts of pollution and economic instability. And when mobility is limited, when safe, accessible transport is out of reach, it is women who first lose the independence to find safer and fairer jobs, or any alternative at all.

If we want healthier cities and more just communities, we need to value the people who make life possible. Caregivers deserve more than a discounted world built on someone else’s sacrifice, they deserve jobs and cities designed for dignity, safety, and connection. And small choices, like supporting community-led movements, choosing fairer systems, and embracing human-scale mobility, help shift power back to those who care.

This Black Friday, and in recognition of CareGiving Month, let’s honour the hands that carry our communities every day. Donate now to support initiatives bringing mobility to caregivers around the world.

🔗 Donation link in the bio