India Cycles4Change challenge gains momentum

• 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.
• With the launch of this challenge, 107 cities registered to be a part of the cycling revolution and 41 cities undertook initiatives 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.

• 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, learning from them, and preparing for scale-up in the second phase.

The key intervention areas identified for piloting of solutions are as under.

1. Identifying barriers to cycling by listening to the people
2. Making streets and neighborhoods safe and fun for cycling
3. Creating a cycling community
4. Empowering women to cycle
5. Changing everyday behavior through campaigns