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How Can We Get More People on Their Bikes?

Provided by: The Climate Question |Published on: August 16, 2022

Podcasts Grades 6-8, 9-12

Synopsis

In this podcast, students will learn about the massive impact that the transportation sector has on carbon emissions and how getting more people on bikes is an imperative step in the climate transition.
Listeners will learn about initiatives in places such as New York City, Botota, and Kampala that include successes and timelines for the infrastructure changes made in these locations.

Subjects: Civics, Health, Engineering

Authors: The Climate Question, BBC

Region: Africa, Europe, North America, South and Central America, USA - Northeast, United States, Global, New York, New York City

Languages: English

Positives

Students will be challenged to think about the ways that shifting how we get around could have a significant impact on the climate crisis.
This podcast focuses on case studies around the world including the Netherlands, France, Colombia, and Uganda.

Additional Prerequisites

Before listening, it may be helpful to give students context about the locations highlighted in the podcast.
Since the podcast is somewhat lengthy, it may help comprehension to pause at a couple of natural stopping points to summarize what students have heard so far.
This podcast switches to climate news at 26:30.

Differentiation

It may help students to have a graphic organizer or note-taking guide while listening in order to help organize main ideas and new learning presented in the podcast.
This SubjectToClimate lesson plan could be used in science classes to help students compare the environmental impacts of different modes of transportation.
Have students watch this Not Just Bikes video and discuss in groups how Paris purposefully transformed its city's bicycle infrastructure.
Engineering or design classes could put students in groups to design a project in their cities to change bicycle and transportation infrastructure.
Social studies classes could have students work in groups to propose ways to address local governments about why transforming bicycle infrastructure could positively impact the environment.
Other related resources include this short video about a protected bike lane pilot program in New York City, this TED Talk about detoxing transportation, and this course about taking personal action.