The COP31 Bike Ride is an international bicycle and sailing relay that symbolically links the city of Belém (Brazil), host city of COP30, to Antalya (Turkey), the Turkish city where the 31st United Nations World Climate Summit (COP) will take place from 9-20 November.

Initiative in Portugal

In a statement, Ecomood Portugal, which coordinates the initiative in Portugal, says that the document with the 10 proposals embarked on a sailboat in Brazil, made a stop in the city of Horta (Azores) and will arrive at the Oeiras Marina on Sunday, where it will be passed on to the Minister of the Environment, Maria da Graça Carvalho, and the Mayor of Oeiras, Isaltino Morais, and from them to the cyclists who will continue their journey by bicycle to Antalya.

Among the proposals of the COP Bike Ride, inspired by the "Walk-Bike-Stroll" (WCR) concept, is the completion of a basic structural network of cycle paths in each city by 2030, especially to improve intercity and multimodal connectivity for daily commutes.

Reduction of car traffic

Reducing car traffic by limiting speed and volume, developing specific plans by 2030, increasing exclusive areas for bicycles and walking, which should pass near schools, public transport hubs, local businesses and green areas, are other proposals of the COP Bike Ride.

Among the measures is also training for children under 12 and women to enable more efficient and widespread use of bicycles in society.

COP Bike Ride

The COP Bike Ride is a global citizen initiative that involves cycling from one COP to the next, with the aim of promoting bicycle use and thereby reducing CO2 emissions.

In Portugal, the initiative is promoted by the Climate Pact and several municipalities. and other entities, coordinated by Ecomood Portugal.

According to the note, COP Bike Ride 31 involves more than 10,000 activists from over 20 countries.

The official handover of the sailboat to the cyclists at the Oeiras Marina will take place on Sunday at 10 am, when Isaltino Morais will also announce measures to strengthen cycling in the municipality's sustainability programs.

On this day, the COP Oeiras Valley edition will also be launched, an environmental initiative carried out by high school students.