April 21, 2025 - (Brussels, BEL) The Cities for Better Health initiative (Novo Nordisk), together with the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF), are proud to announce the launch of the Healthy Cycling Challenge – 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.
From April to June 2025, registered non-profit civic society organisations and local government authorities worldwide are invited to submit their proposals for scalable community-based interventions. Each entry to the Healthy Cycling Challenge must showcase how their initiative addresses the principles to Promote Healthy and Sustainable Urban Neighbourhoods. The four principles are (1) Active & Accessible Neighbourhoods, (2) Resilient & Inclusive Infrastructure, (3) Vibrant & Safe Public Spaces, and (4) Integrated & Connected Destinations. A panel of experts will shortlist six proposals for the next phase, from which three winning proposals will be announced in October 2025. Each winner will receive grants of 100,000 USD to pilot their solutions, fostering real change in urban communities within three to six months after receipt of the funds.
The Healthy Cycling Challenge is seeking scalable and ready-to-implement community-based initiatives that operate within a neighbourhood in a city. The initiatives can be programme, design or policy interventions with the following types of projects being recommended: a pilot project seeking funding for implementation or an established project to be scaled up across the neighbourhood or other areas of the city. We encourage cross-sector collaboration, welcoming partnerships with local government agencies, private companies, and other entities. The lead applicant must be a registered non-profit civic society organisation or local government administration.
Interested organisations can learn more via the Healthy Cycling Challenge webpage.
The deadline for submitting a proposal is 26 June 2025.
About Cities for Better Health
Cities for Better Health is a global public-private partnership committed to accelerating change in urban health across generations by building impactful local partnerships to drive health promotion and prevention.
About Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Novo Nordisk drives change to defeat serious chronic diseases, built upon our heritage in diabetes. We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines and working to prevent and ultimately cure the diseases we treat.
About ECF
We are the single European umbrella organisation for cycling for both transportation and leisure. With more than 70 member organisations in over 40 countries, we unite the European cycling movements as the only civil society voice at the pan-European level, and as the world’s largest and best-known cyclists’ advocacy organisation. The vision we share with our members is to improve and increase cycling across the whole of Europe.
