The symposium is the culmination of years of research and planning, designed as a “huge knowledge mobilisation initiative” that brings together diverse voices to tackle pressing global issues. This collaborative spirit is reflected in the attendee list, which includes representatives from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) alongside grassroots organisations from Canada, Kenya, Nicaragua, and Uganda, creating what organisers describe as a “good mix of like global and local” perspectives.

Each day of the symposium is built around a distinct theme.

Day one, “Reclaiming Spaces,” will delve into anti-colonial journeys and grassroots movements, with a heavy focus on the bicycle as a tool for change. The day will also feature a screening of the film Dirt Relations, presented by the Indigenous Youth Mountain Biking group.

Day two, “Changing Gears,” broadens the scope to global perspectives on mobility justice and gender equity. Panels will feature local and international NGOs discussing various forms of movement, from cycling and running to boxing. This day includes a keynote from Carly Gilbert-Patrick of UNEP and a screening of the documentary Changing Gears, which highlights bicycle-for-development initiatives in Canada, Nicaragua, and Uganda.

The final day, “Creating Sustainable Futures,” is dedicated to policy, collective action, and producing tangible outcomes^. A key feature will be an interactive workshop where attendees collaborate in small, intersectoral groups to brainstorm policy recommendations.

Event organiser Lyndsay Hayhurst, York Research Chair (Tier II) in Sport, Gender, Development and Digital Participatory Research, and an Associate Professor in the School of Kinesiology and Health Science at York University in Toronto, Canada, commented on the symposium: “We are so delighted to have the opportunity and resources to be able to host this symposium at York with our partners. The climate crisis and mobility inequities are truly urgent challenges that cut across sectors.” she added “Our goal is to try and break down silos and bring together diverse voices from sport, mobility, gender, and development. We don’t want attendees to leave with just ideas, but with actionable recommendations, new partnerships, and a shared mission for advancing just and sustainable mobility.”

A significant outcome of the symposium will be the launch of three policy briefs focused on cycling and mobility justice in Toronto, Nicaragua, and Uganda. These documents, developed from long-term research, aim to provide partners with a tangible outcome.

The event will also lead to the creation of a digital Mobility Justice Toolkit, designed for use in teaching, programming, and policymaking worldwide. By connecting diverse stakeholders, the symposium seeks to build a lasting network dedicated to driving sustainable change through the accessible and powerful medium of sport.