In Abidjan, where congestion, air pollution and long commutes dominate daily life, Andy Costa is challenging perceptions of cycling. Known as the city's "cycling ambassador," he promotes bikes as a practical, equal and sustainable form of urban mobility — despite their image as a mode of transport only for those who can't afford a car.

Through partnerships with businesses and advocacy with policy makers, Costa is pushing for change, including plans for new bike lanes. With traffic responsible for nearly half of fine particulate pollution, and thousands of premature deaths in Ivory Coast linked to poor air quality each year, his mission highlights cycling as a potential solution for cleaner, more livable cities.