Bloomberg Philanthropies Announces New Investment to Improve Global Road Safety and Cycling Infrastructure Across 13 Countries, in More Than 30 Cities

$350 million investment aims to save one million lives over the next five years

New York, NY and Madrid, Spain - Today, Mike Bloomberg announced a $350 million commitment to continue support for the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety, including the Bloomberg Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure, further advancing efforts to enact life-saving policies that improve road design, vehicle safety, and help cities build safer, more-connected cycling networks. He made the announcement at CityLab 2026, hosted by Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Aspen Institute.

According to the World Health Organization, more than a million people lose their lives in road crashes each year and another 20 to 50 million people are injured, with many incurring a disability. Most of these deaths and injuries are preventable and often linked to system failures, such as poorly designed roads, weak policies and enforcement, and urban planning that prioritizes vehicles over the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.

"Road crashes don't receive enough attention, even though they take a staggering toll on human life and health - and so many of the injuries and deaths are preventable," said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies, WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries, and three-term mayor of New York City. "At Bloomberg Philanthropies, we've long recognized the urgency to improve road safety and the important role that improved cycling infrastructure can play. This major new investment will expand and accelerate the lifesaving progress we've made bringing proven interventions to streets around the world."

The new commitment brings the total investment in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety to $865 million since the program's inception in 2007. Since then, the initiative has worked with governments and international and local partners to help pass 190 national, state, and city policies that protect 4.2 billion people and have already saved nearly 900,000 lives. Working with partners, the initiative has also improved safety features in 135 car models, redesigned over 2,400 dangerous intersections, and trained nearly 80,000 traffic police across 22 countries. The next phase of the initiative aims to save one million additional lives over the next five years.

The Bloomberg Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure's (BICI) competitive grant program has reached two million people in 10 cities since 2022, building over 200 miles of safe and accessible cycling facilities and preventing 8,000 crashes with an anticipated reduction of 97,000 tons of CO2 emissions by 2040. The program contributes to safer streets through more connected cycling networks.

The new investment will:

• Scale proven policies across 13 countries and in more than 30 cities. Locations include: Buenos Aires and Córdoba (Argentina); Chittagong (Chattogram) and Dhaka North (Bangladesh); Campinas, Salvador, São Paulo State, and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil); Cali and Medellín (Colombia); Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic); Guayaquil and Quito (Ecuador); Oromia State (Ethiopia); Karnataka State, Maharashtra State (including Mumbai and Pune), and Delhi (India); Mombasa and Nairobi (Kenya); Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia); Jalisco State and Mexico City (Mexico); Kampala (Uganda); and Da Nang and Hanoi (Vietnam).

• Expand vehicle safety improvements to more car models across Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

• Promote government investment in public transportation, such as bus rapid transit, which is considered the safest method of transportation in urban areas.

• Continue efforts to reduce dangerous speeding, a contributing factor in roughly 50% of all road traffic fatalities.

• Evaluate new risk factors, including distracted driving after research found cellphones cause an estimated 25% of crashes in South Africa.

• Expand the mentor city model by leveraging three successful cities - Bogotá, Ho Chi Minh City, and Addis Ababa - as regional leaders that support other cities in their countries.

• Launch a global competition to select 25 cities to receive training and technical assistance on designing safe and inclusive cycling infrastructure in their communities. Ten finalists will be awarded $400,000 and technical support to bring their projects to life.

• Reach 15 million people with new and improved bike lanes designed to meet safety standards developed by the Global Designing Cities Initiative (GDCI).

• Create the world's first comprehensive guide for safe cycling infrastructure, setting new international standards to supplement the Global Street Design Guide.

Learn more about Bloomberg Philanthropies' work to improve global road safety and cycling infrastructure here.

About Bloomberg Philanthropies
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg's giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the world. In 2025, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $4.3 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, Facebook, and X.

Media Contact: Veronica Lewin, [email protected]