The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are goals set by world leaders for a better world in 2030. The bicycle/cycling contributes directly to the realisation of at least 10, but indirectly rather 14, of the 17 goals.

SDG #1: NO POVERTY 
A bicycle is an affordable and simple mode of transport improving access to education, jobs, markets, and community activities. The bicycle can help the (farmer) families overcome the barrier of distance and make it possible to transport more in less time. Bicycles are a valuable tool to increase a households’ disposable income since for instance more crops can be brought to the market, more markets can be visited (due to an expanded caption area). It saves time so more time for other income generating activities (income diversification) such as bicycle taxi, street vending, garbage collection, etc.

SDG #2: ZERO HUNGER & FOOD SECURITY
A bicycle allows for better access to (food) markets and communities. Better access to markets means better access to inputs (e.g. fertilisers and quality seeds). And better opportunities to reach and sell to communities or transport grain to mills, produce to markets, milk or coffee to collection centres, etc. So instead of surplus harvest going to waste it reaches the market. An incentive and opportunity for small scale farmers to produce more, earn more and contribute to food security and make a better living.

SDG #3: GOOD HEALTH & WELL-BEING
 A bicycle generates beneficial health effects due to decreased air pollution emissions, decreased greenhouse gas emissions and increased levels of physical activity. But evenly important, or even more, a bicycle empowers the community health volunteer who are the first access to health care for the majority of people living in Africa. A health volunteer on a bicycle can visit twice as many households in a day. And is faster in case of emergencies such as child births. Hence the bicycle and bicycle ambulance contributes to an improved maternal and child health.

SDG #4: QUALITY EDUCATION
Access to education is a huge challenge, but the solution is simple: affordable and efficient transport. By having a bicycle, students can move faster and easily cross longer distances. The valuable time saved with a bicycle allows students to combine education and household tasks. Give girls a fair chance to follow education with a bicycle reduces the number of early school leavers through early teen pregnancies and ultimately offers opportunities for a better future.

SDG #5: GENDER EQUALITY & EMPOWERED WOMEN AND GIRLS
A bicycle improves access for women and girls to water, schools, markets, work and income. Most household chores (e.g. cooking, cleaning, collecting water and firewood) and farming tasks are considered “women’s work”. It is the women who grow most of Africa’s food. By giving female farmers access to a bicycle, other household members like to assist in household chores like fetching water and firewood (unproductive pursuits). Bicycles can be used to make household chores easier and faster, freeing up girls’ time for other pursuits – including school.

SDG #6: AVAILABILITY AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF WATER
A bicycle improves access for women and girls to water, schools, markets, work and income. Most household chores (e.g. cooking, cleaning, collecting water and firewood) and farming tasks are considered “women’s work”. It is the women who grow most of Africa’s food. By giving female farmers access to a bicycle, other household members like to assist in household chores like fetching water and firewood (unproductive pursuits). Bicycles can be used to make household chores easier and faster, freeing up girls’ time for other pursuits – including school.

SDG #7: AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY
As an energy efficient form of transport, it uses renewable human power in the most efficient way, and e-cycling offers access to the use of efficient e-mobility technology.

SDG #8: ECONOMIC GROWTH & DECENT WORK
The cycling sector creates more (formal and informal) jobs for the same turnover than any other transport sector.

SDG #9: RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE AND SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT SYSTEMS
Increased numbers of cyclists make it easier for governments to build resilient infrastructure and sustainable transport systems for economic development and human well-being.

SDG #10: REDUCED INEQUALITIES
People with disabilities are a vulnerable group. They are often excluded, without access to social interaction, education, let alone that they have opportunities to generate an income themselves. By improving the mobility of disabled people by providing them with mobility aids, such as hand trikes and wheelchairs, they will have better access to social participation, education and income. Also other people who don’t have access to work and income due to distance or lack of transportation are able to pursue more opportunities and earn more with a bicycle.

SDG #11: SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES
Cycling is an efficient way of using expensive and scarce space in urban areas, making settlements more sustainable as cycling is affordable (accessible to all people), safe, non-polluting, healthy and promotes sustainable economy. The higher the modal share of walking, cycling and public transport the more sustainable the transport system is.

SDG #12: RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION & PRODUCTION
The transportation of people and goods by bicycle offers jobs and income generating opportunities to move around people as well as the delivery of goods in a sustainable way. The bicycle is a productive economic asset used for a variety of livelihood-enhancing activities. Furthermore the increase of cycle tourism sector creates more jobs and options for people to choose sustainable tourism.

SDG #13: CLIMATE ACTION
Environmentally, a bicycle is a symbol for decarbonizing transport and societies. Bicycles are an eco-friendly means of transportation which requires no fossil fuels. It offers the possibility for immediate climate action. Governments at all levels can take action by integrating cycling into their climate action policies, strategies, education and awareness-raising.

SDG #17: GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
The participation of all actors involved in the cycling movement supports the global partnership for sustainable development.

(Copyright and credits to the European Cyclists’ Federation’s publication: “Cycling Delivers on the Global Goals – Shifting towards a better economy, society, and planet for all”)