Nairobi city./Photo; Courtesy
A new $350 million philanthropic investment has been announced to improve road safety and cycling infrastructure across 13 countries and more than 30 cities, including several in Africa.
The funding, from Bloomberg Philanthropies, will support efforts to reduce road crashes, improve street design, strengthen vehicle safety standards, and expand safer cycling networks in rapidly growing urban areas.
African cities included in the programme are Nairobi and Mombasa in Kenya, Kampala in Uganda, and Oromia State in Ethiopia. The initiative will also be implemented alongside cities in Asia and Latin America, where similar road safety challenges exist.
The investment comes as road safety remains a major global concern. More than one million people die each year in road crashes, with millions more injured. Many of these incidents are linked to unsafe road design, speeding, weak enforcement and limited protection for pedestrians and cyclists.
The programme aims to support governments and city authorities in improving transport systems so they are safer for all road users. A key focus will be on redesigning dangerous roads and intersections, improving enforcement of traffic rules and expanding infrastructure for walking and cycling.
Cycling infrastructure is expected to play a central role, with new investments aimed at creating safer, more connected bike networks that can reduce congestion and improve access to transport in cities.
The initiative will also support improvements in public transport systems such as bus rapid transit, which is widely used in many urban areas and considered one of the safest transport options.
Speeding, which contributes to a large share of road fatalities globally, will be another focus area, alongside new research into risks such as distracted driving.
Mike Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies, said the investment builds on long-standing efforts to reduce preventable road deaths.
“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,” he said.
“This major new investment will expand and accelerate the lifesaving progress we’ve made bringing proven interventions to streets around the world.”
The programme will also provide technical support, training and policy guidance to participating cities, helping them adopt proven road safety measures.
It will encourage knowledge sharing between cities so that successful approaches can be adapted in different local contexts.
A global competition will also select cities to receive training and support for designing safer and more inclusive cycling infrastructure, along with funding to implement projects.
The initiative reflects growing philanthropic focus on safer, more sustainable urban transport systems, particularly in fast-growing cities where road safety risks remain high.
By supporting coordinated action across multiple regions, the programme aims to reduce road fatalities, improve mobility, and make urban transport safer for millions of people worldwide.
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