ABSTRACT
For many cyclists, the bicycle is a source of inner peace, found when pedalling leisurely along a favorite trail. In recent years, a number of BFD studies have shown how bicycles may be vehicles for social change. In some regions, the health implications of having a bicycle were major, because a bike made it easier for people to access medical services and medication, and allowed health care workers to travel greater distances to communities in need. These meanings positively and negatively influenced the willingness of some to use bicycles. Like sport-for-development programs, BFD programs are limited when they focus on individuals without linking to advocacy for broader responses to the structural issues that need fixing, such as accessible education, healthcare provision in rural areas, and cycling infrastructure. BFD presents an interdisciplinary approach to enhancing positive peace in many places. Some BFD organizations, such as ‘Bike for Peace’, organize bicycle rides promoting a more peaceful, non-violent world.
