Momentum in India Cycles4Change Challenge

In News

Recently, it has been highlighted that the India Cycles4Change challenge is beginning to gain momentum in Indian cities.

Background

• With the rise of Covid-19 pandemic and resultant lockdown restrictions, cycling in India saw a huge rise in demand.
• The lockdown restrictions significantly affected the commuters of public transport, who saw cycling as a personal and Covid-safe alternative for short and medium distance commute.
• Cycling is also seen as a means of staying healthy (physically and mentally) by the people who are confined to homes.

About the Challenge

• It was launched under the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on 25^th June, 2020.
• It aimed to inspire Indian cities to implement cycling-friendly interventions.
  • Cities are encouraged to create extensive cycling-networks using low-cost methods like pop-up cycle lanes, non-motorised zones and set up community-led cycle rental schemes.
• Coverage and Criteria
  • It is open to eligible cities which can register and submit their applications on the designated portal.
    • All cities under the Smart Cities Mission.
    • Capital cities of States/Union Territories.
    • All cities with a population of more than 5 lakh.
  • The portal also provides registration to citizens, experts, and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), which can express their interest in collaborating.
• It has two stages.
  • Stage One: Pilot Intervention and Conceptual Scale-up Plan
    • It aimed to encourage cities to initiate and implement quick interventions and promotional activities to encourage cycling and develop a conceptual scale-up strategy.
  • Stage Two: Scaling Up Pilot Interventions
    • Its aim is for the shortlisted cities to further develop and commence the implementation of the concept scale-up plan submitted in Stage One with inputs from National and International experts.

(Image Courtesy: SN)

Support

• The India Programme of the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) is the knowledge partner of the SCM to assist the Mission in conducting the challenge and guiding cities in developing and implementing their proposals.
• It also provides support in the form of ongoing remote assistance to the cities to strategize and implement pilots, develop and implement their scale-up plans, which include, 
  • A series of online workshops with national and international experts to assist cities in developing and implementing their proposals.
  • Connect cities with local CSOs and design experts for assistance in implementation.
  • Facilitate brainstorming and peer-to-peer learning between cities.
  • Share case studies of how such initiatives have been planned and implemented in Indian and global cities.
  • Share other relevant knowledge materials to the cities.
  • Assist cities with communication and outreach.

Progress So Far

• With the launch, 107 cities registered to be a part of the cycling revolution and 41 cities undertook initiatives vis. surveys, discussions, pop-up cycle lanes, safer neighbourhoods, open street events, cycle rallies or online campaigns, aimed at creating a cycle friendly city.
• Cities have initiated work covering approximately 400 kms of arterial roads and more than 3500 kms of neighbourhood streets.
• To ensure sustained efforts on the front, cities are also setting up departments focused on cycling with the help of transport experts and government stakeholders.
• Over 30 cities have initiated work to adopt a Healthy Streets Policy, which sets out the vision, goals, and the steps required to transform city streets into safe, attractive, and comfortable spaces for walking and cycling.
• Cities are now developing cycling plans to scale-up these initiatives across their cities to achieve the goals set out in the policy.
• The challenge had a Test-Learn-Scale (TLS) approach which the participating cities adopted by testing various initiatives through quick low-cost interventions in the first phase of the challenge.

Significance

• 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 Rs. 1.8 trillion to the Indian economy.
• Increasing cycling can help cities in a green economic recovery and also help tackle the problem of climate change due to less use of fuel.
• Cycling is a good physical exercise which helps build core strength and immunity.

Suggestions

• After learning from the first phase, cities are preparing to scale up the second phase and the key intervention areas identified for piloting of solutions are as under, 
  • Identifying barriers to cycling by listening to the people.
  • Making streets and neighbourhoods safe and fun for cycling.
  • Creating a cycling community.
  • Empowering women to cycle.
  • Changing everyday behaviour through campaigns.
• There is a need for affordable and sustainable options for women’s mobility to compete in a post-Covid-19 economy and cycling can play an important role to address this as a sustainable and equitable mode of transport.
• Moreover, in the future, cities must become compact and inclusive, to meet the needs of all residents within 15 minutes by walk, cycle, and public transport. This will reduce carbon emissions, increase safety, and enhance liveability.
• Through quick and easy interventions, more Indian cities can support the vulnerable population during this crisis, while also strengthening social, economic, and environmental development.
• Indian cities must prioritise cycling, walking, and public transport to build resilience to face future pandemics but to also effectively tackle climate change.

Source: PIB