The 193 members of the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on March 15 supporting bicycles as a tool for combatting climate change.

Proposed by the Central Asian nation of Turkmenistan, the resolution was passed unanimously and like all General Assembly resolutions is non-binding.

The resolution calls on member states to “integrate the bicycle into public transportation, in urban and rural settings in developing and developed countries”.

Increasing cycling through improved road safety and the promotion of bike-riding will help achieve “sustainable development, including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions”, according to the resolution.

More specifically, the resolution encourages member states to “give special attention to cycling in cross-cutting development strategies, including bicycle sharing services”, as well as when possible in “international, regional, national and subnational development policies and programmes”.