To
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW)
Demands
A national-level Non-Motorised Transport (NMT)/Healthy Streets(HS) Act with a 5-year vision is adopted jointly by:
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW)
Initiate a national-level NMT/HS programme to promote walking and cycling with budgetary allocations for the cities to achieve the vision.
MoRTH notifies highways passing through the urban areas as arterial streets to provide protected cycle lanes, footpaths and at-grade signalized pedestrian crossings.
Why is this Important?
Over the last year, a cycling revolution has taken India by storm. Over 40 cities across the country are leading the change by testing, learning and scaling ideas to promote cycling. These cities have collectively initiated work on around 400 km of arterial and 3500 km of neighbourhood streets. This was achieved in the first phase of the India Cycles4Change Challenge, where the Smart Cities Mission, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs trained and guided 107 cities on various cycling initiatives.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, cycling saw a surge. Due to lockdown restrictions, many public transport commuters were severely affected; cycling served as a personal and COVID-safe alternative for short and medium distance trips. As prolonged lockdowns kept citizens cooped up indoors, cycling became their means of staying physically and mentally fit.
COVID-19 also highlighted how cities with higher pollution levels are at a greater risk of contracting the virus. In the long run, cycling can cut down on vehicular emissions and congestion levels across Indian cities, addressing the climate emergency our planet is facing today. Through the India Cycles4Change, cities are quickly testing ideas to make streets cycle-friendly while also taking steps towards permanent, long-term change.
Many Cities started with perception surveys to find out the real needs of citizens. City leaders then hit the town on cycles—with citizens—to identify roadblocks to cycling.
Cities created dedicated cycle lanes to help cyclists ride safely, without the worry of speeding cars and other obstructions.
Cities worked with local Civil Society Organisations to conduct various events both at a large scale and in neighbourhoods to bring the cycling community together. As a direct impact of these pilots, many more RWAs demanded cycling-friendly neighbourhoods from the cities.
Many cities including Nashik, New Town Kolkata, and Bengaluru hosted cycle training camps for older women, boosting their confidence to cycle.
Having tested and learnt from these pilots, cities are now developing cycling plans to scale up these initiatives across their cities to achieve the goals set out in the policy. This will lead the way for different government departments and citizens to work together towards a walking and cycling-friendly nation.
The pandemic is an opportunity for cities to reinvent themselves. Cycle sales in India touched a decadal high of 20% last year, highlighting the demand for cycling. Through quick and easy interventions, more Indian cities can support the vulnerable during this crisis, while also strengthening social, economic, and environmental development.
Investments in cycling infrastructure have economic benefits of up to 5.5 times the initial investment. Cycling for short distances can result in an annual benefit of INR 1.8 trillion to the Indian economy. Indian cities must prioritise cycling, walking, and public transport to building resilience to face future pandemics but to also effectively tackle climate change.
This cannot happen without financial and logistical support to the city at a national level. Join us in demanding a cycling-friendly India.
To
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW)
Demands
A national-level Non-Motorised Transport (NMT)/Healthy Streets(HS) Act with a 5-year vision is adopted jointly by:
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW)
Initiate a national-level NMT/HS programme to promote walking and cycling with budgetary allocations for the cities to achieve the vision.
MoRTH notifies highways passing through the urban areas as arterial streets to provide protected cycle lanes, footpaths and at-grade signalized pedestrian crossings.
Why is this Important?
Over the last year, a cycling revolution has taken India by storm. Over 40 cities across the country are leading the change by testing, learning and scaling ideas to promote cycling. These cities have collectively initiated work on around 400 km of arterial and 3500 km of neighbourhood streets. This was achieved in the first phase of the India Cycles4Change Challenge, where the Smart Cities Mission, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs trained and guided 107 cities on various cycling initiatives.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, cycling saw a surge. Due to lockdown restrictions, many public transport commuters were severely affected; cycling served as a personal and COVID-safe alternative for short and medium distance trips. As prolonged lockdowns kept citizens cooped up indoors, cycling became their means of staying physically and mentally fit.
COVID-19 also highlighted how cities with higher pollution levels are at a greater risk of contracting the virus. In the long run, cycling can cut down on vehicular emissions and congestion levels across Indian cities, addressing the climate emergency our planet is facing today. Through the India Cycles4Change, cities are quickly testing ideas to make streets cycle-friendly while also taking steps towards permanent, long-term change.
Many Cities started with perception surveys to find out the real needs of citizens. City leaders then hit the town on cycles—with citizens—to identify roadblocks to cycling.
Cities created dedicated cycle lanes to help cyclists ride safely, without the worry of speeding cars and other obstructions.
Cities worked with local Civil Society Organisations to conduct various events both at a large scale and in neighbourhoods to bring the cycling community together. As a direct impact of these pilots, many more RWAs demanded cycling-friendly neighbourhoods from the cities.
Many cities including Nashik, New Town Kolkata, and Bengaluru hosted cycle training camps for older women, boosting their confidence to cycle.
Having tested and learnt from these pilots, cities are now developing cycling plans to scale up these initiatives across their cities to achieve the goals set out in the policy. This will lead the way for different government departments and citizens to work together towards a walking and cycling-friendly nation.
The pandemic is an opportunity for cities to reinvent themselves. Cycle sales in India touched a decadal high of 20% last year, highlighting the demand for cycling. Through quick and easy interventions, more Indian cities can support the vulnerable during this crisis, while also strengthening social, economic, and environmental development.
Investments in cycling infrastructure have economic benefits of up to 5.5 times the initial investment. Cycling for short distances can result in an annual benefit of INR 1.8 trillion to the Indian economy. Indian cities must prioritise cycling, walking, and public transport to building resilience to face future pandemics but to also effectively tackle climate change.
This cannot happen without financial and logistical support to the city at a national level. Join us in demanding a cycling-friendly India.
Thank you for signing this campaign to Demand cycle friendly cities in India.
The more people are behind an issue - the more likely it is that decision-makers will pay attention. Each name that is added to a campaign takes it one step closer to succeeding.
Can you help spread the word about this campaign by sharing it with your friends and family?
We have created a hubpage for all the cycling petitions in different cities of India. Help your city to achieve maximum impact in the the campaign. Sign your city's cycling petition visit https://cyclenow.in/
Thanks for all that you do,
The Jhatkaa.org team.
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