The India Cycles4Change Challenge:
The India Cycles4Change challenge is beginning to gain momentum in Indian cities.
- The challenge was launched under the Smart Cities Mission by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on 25th June, 2020, as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- As the COVID-19 pandemic was making inroads across the country, cycling saw a huge rise in demand.
- The lockdown restrictions had significantly affected the commuters of public transport, who saw cycling as a personal and COVID-safe alternative for the short and medium-distance commute.
- Moreover, cycling was also seen as a means of staying healthy- physically and mentally by the people who were confined to their homes.
- Against this backdrop, with the launch of the India Cycle4Change challenge, 107 cities registered to be a part of the cycling revolution and 41 cities undertook initiatives vis. surveys, discussions, pop-up cycle lanes, safer neighborhoods, open street events, cycle rallies, or online campaigns that were aimed at creating a cycle-friendly city.
- The Smart Cities Mission, in association with Institute for Transport and Development Policy (ITDP), conducted training modules and other capacity-building initiatives to guide 107 cities on various cycling initiatives.
