Bloomberg Philanthropies extends Global NCAP as part of a $350m road safety package
Global NCAP is delighted to continue its partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies under a new $350 million road safety investment aimed at saving one million lives over the next five years.
The funding will continue to support the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety, a multi-partner programme Global NCAP has been part of since 2014. The renewed investment will advance efforts to enact policy that improves road design, strengthen vehicle safety and help cities develop safer cycling networks.
Announced by Michael Bloomberg at CityLab 2026 in Madrid, the latest commitment brings the initiative’s total investment to $865 million since its launch in 2007.
“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,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, Founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies, WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries, and three-term mayor of New York City.
“At Bloomberg Philanthropies, we’ve long recognised the urgency to improve road safety and the important role that improved cycling infrastructure can play. This major new investment will expand and accelerate the lifesaving progress we’ve made bringing proven interventions to streets around the world.”
How the funding will be used
The initiative focuses on five key areas: strengthening national legislation, enhancing data collection and surveillance, improving road user behaviour, upgrading infrastructure, and advancing vehicle safety.
The new funding will scale these efforts across 13 countries and more than 30 cities including Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Guayaquil, Nairobi, Hanoi and Kuala Lumpur. Meanwhile, the mentor city model will be expanded with Bogotá, Ho Chi Minh City and Addis Ababa acting as regional leaders for road safety progress.
Alongside efforts to reduce speeding, address distracted driving and increase investment in public transport, the initiative will continue to expand vehicle safety improvements across Latin America, Africa, and Asia - bringing higher safety standards to a wider range of models.
Cycling takes focus
Included in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety is the Bloomberg Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure grant programme, which has seen over 200 miles of cycling facilities built across 10 cities. The latest funding will be used for new and improved bike lanes, with the goal of reaching 15 million people.
To further scale progress, a global competition will launch which will select 25 cities to receive training and technical assistance in designing safe, inclusive cycling infrastructure. Ten finalists will each be awarded $400,000 alongside technical support to implement their projects.
The initiative also aims to develop the world’s first comprehensive guide for safe cycling infrastructure, complementing the highly-regarded Global Street Design Guide.
A continued commitment to vehicle safety
Since its inception, the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety has helped pass 190 national, state and city-level policies. The organisation reports that it has protected 4.2 billion people and helped save nearly 900,000 lives.
It has driven major progress in vehicle safety, with safety features improved in 135 car models. More than 2,400 high-risk intersections have been redesigned and 80,000 traffic police officers trained across 22 countries.
After nearly two decades of impact, the latest funding now takes the initiative into its next phase, with continued efforts to raise vehicle safety standards with partners like Global NCAP, a bold recognition of cycling and a relentless push to scale proven solutions worldwide.
