The Role of Active Mobility in Transforming Indian Urban Transportation

Understanding Active Mobility

Active mobility encompasses transportation methods that rely on human power, eschewing motorised vehicles. Common forms include walking, cycling, skateboarding, and other non-motorised pursuits. These modes not only facilitate daily commutes but also serve recreational and health-oriented purposes, fostering a cleaner, healthier, and more inclusive transport environment.

The Significance of Active Mobility in Indian Urban Areas

Indian cities grapple with challenges such as traffic congestion, air and noise pollution, accidental deaths, and public health concerns. Active mobility offers an affordable, low-emission alternative to private vehicle use, potentially improving public health, easing traffic flow, and reducing fuel consumption.

The Karnataka Active Mobility Bill, 2022

The Karnataka Active Mobility Bill, 2022 seeks to enhance infrastructure for walking, cycling, and pedestrian-friendly environments. Its goals include allocating more space for non-motorised transport, improving road safety and environmental quality, and protecting the rights of pedestrians and cyclists. This initiative gained momentum when Bengaluru reported the highest number of pedestrian deaths in India in 2020.

Barriers Hindering Active Mobility

Several obstacles impede the adoption of active mobility, including a lack of safe infrastructure, urban planning that favours cars, high numbers of privately owned vehicles, social stigma, road safety concerns, and inadequate traffic enforcement. In 2021, data revealed that 85% of roads did not meet minimum safety standards for walking and cycling.

Advantages of Active Mobility

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), active mobility enhances physical and mental health, reduces air pollution, supports economic savings by lowering fuel and healthcare costs, and offers environmental benefits. It also encourages more inclusive and safe public spaces.

Indian Initiatives to Promote Active Mobility

Several Indian cities are making strides in promoting active mobility:

• Delhi: The Delhi Non-Motorised Transport Policy aims to enhance cycling infrastructure.
• Chennai: The city has implemented pedestrian-friendly streets and launched a Public Bicycle Sharing (PBS) system.
• Pune: Over 35 km of cycling lanes have been developed.

Global Support for Active Mobility

Internationally, countries have extensively supported active mobility:

• Netherlands: Known for over 35,000 km of cycling lanes and strong public support.
• Germany: Implements bans on motorised vehicles in central zones to promote cycling.
• European Union: Prioritises walking and cycling in urban planning.
• United Kingdom: Follows the National Vision Zero policy to reduce traffic injuries and encourages walking and cycling.

Strategies to Enhance Active Mobility in Indian Cities

To improve active mobility, Indian cities can develop dedicated pedestrian and cycling lanes, strengthen traffic law enforcement, launch awareness campaigns, provide public bike-sharing systems, and integrate active mobility into smart city planning.

"The road to good governance begins when we make room for every citizen — not just every vehicle."