Case study from Asia

Abstract

In traffic-clogged streets of urban India, where cars have traditionally been regarded as a status symbol, the humble bicycle is enjoying a new lease of life. However, cycling to work is still a distant dream for the vast majority of India’s urban population. Barriers include socio-cultural, psychological, and environmental factors and a lack of prioritization of cycling infrastructure (e.g., cycle lanes, bicycle parking, and lock-friendly bike racks) in planning policy. This chapter calls attention to the misguided policies leading to the decline of cycling and the emergence of India’s motor dominant society. There is an urgent need to recognize cycling as a multi-pronged solution to address acute, 21st-century problems such as housing affordability, non-communicable diseases, traffic congestion, health inequities, and the climate crisis.