India Cycles4Change
Source : Indian Express
GS II : Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate

Why in News ?

Under India Cycles4Change 41 cities testing cycling friendly initiatives. Challenge was launched last year under the Smart Cities Mission. 

Key Facts

• 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 that were aimed at creating a cycle friendly city.
• Cities as part of the campaign have initiated work covering approx. 400 kms of arterial roads and more than 3500 kms of neighbourhood streets.
• 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.

Need of the Initiative

• As a part of their post Covid recovery plans, cities across the world are quickly testing cycling infrastructure and then making it permanent to rebuild.
• Pandemic has also highlighted the need for affordable and sustainable options for women’s mobility to compete in a post-COVID 19 economy.

India Cycle4Change challenge

• Challenge was launched last year 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 that was gaining ground in the country.
• Over the last year a cycling revolution has taken over India with cycling being seen as an important mode of safe and healthy personal transport medium.
• It ensures social distancing, while being environmentally sustainable.
• Challenge had a Test-Learn-Scale (TLS) approach.
  • The participating cities adopted by testing various initiatives through quick low-cost interventions in the first phase of the challenge, learning from them, and preparing for scale up in the second phase.

Progress and Campaigns under the Challenge

• 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

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