Pedaling Forward: Is Your City Cycling-Friendly?

Cycling is trending in smaller cities!

In India’s largest coaching hub, students commute daily by cycling because of its affordability & convenience. This has made Kota the 2nd largest second-hand bicycle market in the country! Selected as one of Bloomberg Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure (BICI) Cities 2023, Pimpri-Chinchwad aims to implement a 15-minute city neighborhood model prioritizing cycling infrastructure. Furthermore, 39,000 commuters had registered by October last year for Srinagar's Public Bicycle Sharing (PBS) service in collaboration with Chartered Bikes.

Providing access to bicycles in docking hubs for short-term use, the PBS has intended to be an eco-friendly & affordable choice of transportation. However, Bhopal’s PBS service has faltered due to administrative mismanagement, with bikes in disrepair & cycle tracks encroached on by parked vehicles. Bhubaneswar's unused Mo Bikes were repaired & redistributed among women in SHGs five years after its launch. Chandigarh has over 200 km of cycle tracks, yet encroachments, inadequate connectivity & poor design have hindered their effectiveness.

Nevertheless, the recent technological revamp of Mysuru’s “TrinTrin” aims to revive the PBS through pedal-assist bicycles & IoT-integrated locking hubs, along with constructing an 8.72 km dedicated cycle track. According to WRI India, popularizing cycling in intensely urbanizing spaces requires ensuring cyclist safety & user engagement, with collaborative efforts by city authorities & bike operators.

Community engagement also has a pivotal role in sustaining public interest in cycling. “Cycle with Kochi” empowers women from economically weaker sections in the city by teaching them to cycle. Similarly, Cyclotrots - Kota’s community of over 4000 cyclists, is organizing workshops for students to reduce carbon emissions & pollution. By raising awareness about well-being & environmental sustainability, these initiatives are rallying to make cities more cycle-friendly!

Is your city cycling-friendly? How has your city’s infrastructure helped or hindered your cycling experience?