Why Active Mobility is Crucial for India’s Urban Future
Why in News?
Amid growing urban congestion, pollution, and road accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists, active mobility has emerged as a key strategy for safer, healthier, and more sustainable cities. Karnataka’s recent Active Mobility Bill, 2022, has brought renewed focus on promoting non-motorised transport in Indian cities. 
Introduction
India’s metros are witnessing frequent and tragic accidents involving pedestrians, cyclists, and street vendors. Despite urban development, service lanes often fail to protect non-motorised road users from high-speed motor traffic. In this grim context, promoting active mobility — which uses human power for transportation — has become the need of the hour.
What is Active Mobility?
Active mobility includes walking, cycling, skateboarding, and other non-motorised means of travel primarily used for daily commutes rather than recreational activities. This concept gains significance due to its potential to:
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Reduce traffic congestion
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Improve air quality
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Enhance public health
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Decrease road fatalities
It aligns with global and national policies promoting sustainable transportation, including India’s National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP) and Smart Cities Mission (SCM). International agreements like the Paris Climate Accord also support this shift.
Barriers to Active Mobility
Despite its benefits, India struggles with implementing active mobility due to several hurdles:
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Inadequate infrastructure: As of 2021, over 85% of Indian roads fail to meet basic safety norms for walking or cycling.
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Extreme weather and long travel distances discourage people.
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Affordable motor vehicles and societal preferences for them reduce interest in cycling or walking.
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Poor traffic enforcement and high congestion further disincentivize non-motorised modes.
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Cultural perceptions: Bikes and walking are often viewed as lower-status options.
Legislative and Civic Push: Karnataka’s Example
The Karnataka Active Mobility Bill, 2022, marks a landmark move toward safer cities. It seeks to:
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Improve urban infrastructure for non-motorised transport
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Ensure public access to safe pedestrian and cycling facilities
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Create better regulatory and funding mechanisms for active mobility
This aligns with efforts from public figures like Sathya Sankaran, Bengaluru’s first Bicycle Mayor, who has advocated cycling and walking since 2018.
Global Examples of Success
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The Netherlands: With over 35,000 km of dedicated cycling lanes, it leads the world in promoting active mobility.
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Germany: Cities like Berlin have reduced motor speeds and designed safer zones for walking and cycling.
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European Union: Vision Zero aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and prioritise pedestrian safety.
These examples underline the importance of thoughtful planning, infrastructure investment, and behavioral change to ensure success.
Conclusion
Active mobility is not just a transportation choice — it’s a vision for cleaner, healthier, and more equitable cities. For India, the road ahead requires investment in infrastructure, legislative support like Karnataka’s 2022 Bill, and public campaigns to normalize non-motorised transport. With the right push, India can build cities that are safe, breathable, and accessible for all.
5 Q&A on Active Mobility in India
Q1. What is active mobility?
Active mobility refers to transportation using human power — like walking, cycling, and skateboarding — used mainly for daily commutes, not just recreation.
Q2. Why is active mobility important for India?
It can help reduce traffic congestion, air pollution, road accidents, and promote public health, especially in crowded urban centers.
Q3. What is the Karnataka Active Mobility Bill, 2022?
It’s a legislative effort to improve infrastructure and access for non-motorised transport users in Karnataka, aiming for safer and healthier urban mobility.
Q4. What are the key challenges to active mobility in Indian cities?
Poor infrastructure, lack of safety, weather extremes, traffic congestion, low social acceptance, and cheap motor vehicles are major barriers.
Q5. How do countries like the Netherlands promote active mobility?
The Netherlands uses over 35,000 km of dedicated cycling lanes, strong policy support, and public awareness to encourage walking and biking as mainstream transport.
