On Friday, 2 June 2023, delegates and staff members at UN Headquarters are invited to participate in the following celebrations for World Bicycle Day*:
12 p.m.
Celebration and exhibition opening sponsored the Permanent Mission of Poland
UN Headquarters Rose Garden
Remarks from the Permanent Representative of Poland, the President of the 77th session of the General Assembly, the Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, the City Council member representing NYC District 5, as well as the exhibition’s artists, and the initiator of World Bicycle Day.
Access: Open to all delegates and UN staff members on foot.
1:30 - 2 p.m.
Gathering convened by the Permanent Mission of Turkmenistan and co-sponsoring missions
UNHQ, North of the rotunda circle
Remarks by the President of the 77th session of the General Assembly, the Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, the President of the UN Staff Union in New York, as well as the host, the Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan to the United Nations.
Access: Open to all delegates and UN staff on foot, or on bicycle upon verification of vehicles by the canine unit (in the latter case, please proceed to 43rd street entrance by 1.20 p.m. for security clearance). Participants in this segment will then proceed to 1st avenue for the second segment of the event (the bicycle ride (see infra).
2 - 2:30 p.m.
Bicycle ride by the Permanent Mission of Turkmenistand and co-sponsoring missions
First Avenue by the 43rd Street steps ()
Bicycle ride led by the President of the General Assembly and the Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, from 43rd to 46th streets, using the 1st avenue protected bike lane. The group will meet again at 46th street, by the UN Visitors’ entrance, for a photo op.
Access: Open to all delegates and UN staff members upon ?(note: UN staff members are invited to select “other” in the country/organization field).. All participants are invited to bring their bicycles (or Citi Bike) along for this segment.
*World Bicycle Day has been celebrated every year on 3 June since the General Assembly adopted resolution in 2018, which recognized that bicycles are a “simple, affordable, reliable, clean and environmentally fit sustainable means of transportation, fostering environmental stewardship and health.”
This year, the celebration comes at a time when the UN is increasingly bringing biking to the forefront of the UN agenda and the SDGs:
- Throughout the month of May, the UN family at HQ participated in the Bike Month challenge, and is well positioned to finish among the top 3 organizations.
- UNESCO’s Executive Board just adopted a new initiative.
- Additional bike parking options are being devised at UNHQ, which will enable a more bike-friendly environment for delegates and UN staff.
Communications:
- ?will provide coverage?in various languages.
- Visit the sponsoring and co-sponsoring missions’ social media (, , , , , , , and ).
- Use #WorldBicycleDay on social media.
