A people-friendly city is foremost an accessible city, where mobility is absolutely possible for everyone. Most cities today are plagued by traffic congestion, and in densely populated city areas the fastest way of getting around is often on a bicycle, which proved to be a highly efficient means of transport.

A steadily growing number of cities around the globe are eager to become cities of bicycles, as part of an overall strategy on sustainable development and also the desire to become green cities. The development of cycle path networks that can supplement the public transport system also makes a significant contribution to reducing CO2 emissions. In Copenhagen for example, cyclists are saving the city 90,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually.

Cities of bicycles are definitely people-friendly cities, and city planning that considers pedestrians and cyclists will form a very meaningful contribution to the humanistic city of the future.

In Copenhagen, a survey has shown that most of the cyclists choose this means of transport because they want to get to their destination the fastest way possible - this being one of the most important reason why they use a bicycle instead of a car. Being an efficient means of transport, the bicycle is becoming popular elsewhere in the world as well - including Mexico City - one of the cities that are worst affected by traffic congestion.

Traffic congestion represents a major economic problem as well because of the many working hours lost each day from sitting in traffic jams. For example, the average speed of cars in Mexico City is 4 kph in rush hour, while bicycles have a comparative average speed of 10 kph.

Besides being an efficient means of transport in terms of time, a bicycle is also affordable. Unlike cars, even the poorest segment of the population can usually afford one. Therefore planning a bicycle friendly city helps developing a more socially inclusive and socially just city where large groups of people are not excluded from moving around in the city. This social inclusion can be put into practice in several ways anywhere.

A well-developed cycle path network can also help social inclusion across age groups. Even in very wealthy cities, large groups of people like children, young people and the elderly are extremely limited in their mobility because the city is designed for cars – a means of transport that they cannot use.

Evidently a city of bicycles needs the right infrastructure including cycle paths and bicycle parking, but also a number of communication initiatives such as campaigns to promote cycling, educating children and special initiatives targeted at groups who do not normally cycle. Such initiatives are of great importance in building a bicycle culture in cities.

It is essential to create a quality of urban environment as well that makes it attractive to move around both on foot and by bicycle. This is a self-perpetuating process since the presence of pedestrians and cyclists significantly contributes to the life of the city and thereby its attraction.

Thinking of the city of bicycles as one contribution among many which are intended to promote an attractive urban environment, has turned out to be highly effective: the city of bicycles, the pedestrian city, the healthy city, the attractive city and the accessible city are all facets of the same issue. Planning for pedestrians and cyclists is therefore an obvious place to begin in order to create a sustainable and people-friendly city.