The European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) and Cities for Better Health have announced six finalists in the Healthy Cycling Challenge drawn from 243 proposals from 46 countries. We’re delighted to confirm that “Ntwara Ndebe: The Kinigi Safe Bikebus School Program” is one of the finalists and is using the CycleRAP methodology to enhance safe and equitable school transport in rural Rwanda.

Led by Healthy People Rwanda with support from Berwa Cycling and Lane Patrol, the project pioneers a bikebus system in rural Rwanda.

Students collect bikes from community hubs managed by Berwa and ride to school in groups led by trained monitors. Routes are assessed using the CycleRAP methodology to define areas to implement tactical urbanism to improve safety. The Lane Patrol Community app coordinates rides and supports communication, while Berwa’s hubs serve as information centres and secure storage for school-owned bikes.

The project enjoys strong support from:

• Schools in Kinigi: Hosting docking stations and spearheading community engagement.
• Musanze District Authorities: Offering policy alignment and backing sustainable mobility efforts.
• Kinigi Sector: Approving bike docking sites and mobilizing parents through community events like umuganda.
• Fundación Alberto Contador: Donating bicycles and delivering technical training in bike maintenance.
• iRAP: Improving school-route safety providing the CycleRAP methodology.
• Africa Rising Cycling Centre (ARCC): Linking with Rwanda’s cycling federation and inspiring girls to cycle.
• The Rwanda Bookmobile (Reading Riders): Fostering literacy through cycling-centred community engagement.
• The Bike Shop 250: Facilitating access to quality bikes and training youth mechanics in Kigali.

This initiative exemplifies the power of cross-sector collaboration to create safe, sustainable school transport, empowering communities and driving lasting change.

We’re honoured to see CycleRAP supporting Rwandan and global partners in this special initiative advancing safe, equitable cycling infrastructure and services for their community.

CycleRAP is an easy, affordable and fast method of evaluating road and bicycling infrastructure for safety. It aims to reduce crashes and improve safety specifically for bicyclists and other light mobility users by identifying high risk locations without the need for crash data.

Other award finalists include:

• Walkability Institute: Community bike-sharing systems in favelas in São Paulo – Brazil
• Raahgiri Foundation – Pedal Path: HIPA’s Journey to Health and Equity – India
• Sociedad Peruana de Derecho Ambiental – Peruvian Society for Environmental Law – Pedalea Seguro: Strengthening Urban Cycling for Healthier and More Inclusive Cities in Peru
• Cycling out of Poverty (CooP-Africa) Foundation – Jinja Reimagined – Streets for People – Uganda
• Cycle City Network Nepal (CCNN) – Pedal Paathshala (School): Community Learning on Wheels – Nepal

The finalists will pitch their projects to a Selection Panel this month, for a chance to be one of three winners of US$100,000 to implement their solutions. The three winning projects will present their implementation progress and results in June at Velo-city 2026 Rimini.

Learn more about the finalists here.

Article credit: Jose Manuel Gutierrez Franco, Lane Patrol