I distinguish two steps in bike activism depending on the urban biking moment. Firstly, bike activism is essential when there are few bicyclers on a city. The main action of them is just ride their bikes as most people tend not to try something new unless some other people have done it before. So, if pedestrians see bikers pedaling happily, they are more prone to do the same. After checking they can do it, more people want to enjoy bicycles. If parents ride bikes, children want to do it also. If children pedal, parents would do the same. It is a snowball. Secondary actions of bike activists at this point are fighting for infrastructures such as segregated bike lines, secure bike parking and urban design pro-biking. Many different actions can be done to convince politicians of the biking benefits. At the same time, motor vehicles drivers are being accustomed to bicycles.

Secondly, the final step starts when the number of displacements by bikes is a majority. Few countries have reached it at this moment, located in central and northern Europe. One can realize it when bicycle traffic stuck and use of motor vehicles in cities is less than 20%. They are societies in which a great majority of inhabitants are in favor of less pollutant ways of transport, and bikes above all. The impact of bike activists is less visual as almost everybody uses bicycles. Still, this type of activism is appreciated and its actions mutate into more specific issues. Examples are workshops on how to face social disasters, bike tourism (outside cities) promotion, non-competing sports events, bike concerts and bike leisure in general encouragement, among others.

To me, the natural, logical progression from step one to step two is something in which the majority of countries around the globe are immersed. We do not stop. Thanks to all bike activists!