Local initiatives across Italy are turning walking and cycling into tools for healthier urban living
Across Italy, cities are reimagining streets, parks and public spaces as places to promote everyday movement and well-being. From Genova to Napoli, twelve municipalities are taking action to make walking and cycling safer, more accessible and a regular part of life, particularly in underserved communities with limited access to active public space.
In Genova, residents joined a Walk and CBH Talk in early May along the city’s second Anello del Benessere (Wellness Ring), a walking route enhanced by a navigation app that blends real-time wayfinding with local stories and cultural points of interest. The initiative encourages residents of all ages to walk, connect and explore.
Building on this momentum, Como introduced Muoviti, muoviti (“Move, move”), a new programme that embeds walking and cycling into daily routines, especially along the lakeside. The initiative launched alongside a three-day Driving Change Arena co-hosted with the city, the latest in a series of collaborative actions following Mayor Alessandro Rapinese’s signing of the City Commitment for Better Health in 2024.
In Milan, active mobility took centre stage on 11 May with BiciCivica, an event that turned city streets into a celebration of cycling as a community-powered tool for health and sustainability. The event spotlighted cycling as a powerful enabler of health, sustainability and community connection.
Lodi became the latest city in northern Italy to join the Cities for Better Health network. Mayor Andrea Furegato formalised the city’s commitment to prevention by signing the City Commitment for Better Health during a dedicated town hall event on 29 May.
Several of these city-led initiatives in Italy focus on building healthy routines from childhood. In Bari, Cities for Better Health partnered with BYCS and Terreno ETS to launch Cycling for Better Health, a global programme helping children discover the joy of cycling through community-based activities.
Genoa is also promoting active mobility among children with BicibusSauro, a weekly bike-to-school campaign offering supervised group rides to help schoolchildren build confidence and safe cycling habits.
The movement continues to grow, with the Walking Friends 5.0 programme, bringing walking-focused activities to Torino, Palermo, Livorno, Rome and Napoli. Developed in partnership with Olympic gold medallist Maurizio Damilano, the programme aims to build a network of urban walking routes to make exercise accessible to everyone.
Cities for Better Health partners in Italy are raising awareness about prevention through national sporting events. Public health campaigns included an engagement in April in Reggio Calabria, where they collaborated with Mayor Giuseppe Falcomata during the local race of the Italian Region's Cup. Other cycling events used as platforms for these campaigns included the Laigueglia, Milano-Torino, and the Tour of the Alps races. These initiatives help reach broader audiences and emphasise the importance of active lifestyles.
Together, these efforts reflect a growing nationwide commitment to healthier, more inclusive cities. By empowering local governments to prioritise equity, prevention and movement, Cities for Better Health is helping Italy create everyday environments where well-being can thrive.
