Context: Recently, the Smart Cities Mission (under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs) has opened the registration for India Cycles4Change Challenge which was launched in June 2020.
About the India Cycles4Change Challenge

• It is an initiative of the Smart Cities Mission, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India to inspire and support Indian cities to quickly implement cycling-friendly initiatives in response to COVID-19.
• The Challenge aims to help cities connect with their citizens as well as experts to develop a unified vision to promote cycling.
• In addition to creating extensive cycling-networks through low-cost interventions like pop-up cycle lanes and traffic-calmed or non-motorised zones, cities could launch programmes such as community-led cycle rental schemes that increase the availability of cycles to citizens and promote the usage of cycling through public events and outreach.
• In the longer term, the Smart Cities Mission encourages cities to convert temporary interventions into permanent.
• Cities are encouraged to collaborate with CSOs, experts, and volunteers as they develop and implement their plans.Citizen collaboration will also be a key metric in the evaluation of proposals submitted by the cities.

The Challenge will run in two stages:

• Stage One will run until October where cities will focus on piloting quick interventions to promote cycling and developing a scale-up strategy.
• In October 2020, 11 cities will be shortlisted and will receive Rs. 1 Crore award and guidance from national and international experts to further scale-up the initiatives in Stage Two, which will be held until May 2021.

Who can apply?

• Cities with a population of more than 5 lakh.
• Capital cities of states/UTs.
• Cities under the Smart Cities Mission.

Benefits for cities:

• Through this challenge, cities will be able to implement quick cycling interventions with support from experts and citizens.
• They will also receive guidance on how to create permanent interventions to encourage cycling in their city.

Need of Such an Initiative:

• The need for personalized forms of transport is expected to increase as a response to Covid-19. Some Indian cities have already started working towards promoting cycling as a response to the pandemic.
• Kolkata has proposed a dedicated cycle corridor by reclaiming parking spaces.
• In Guwahati, the Green lane Foundation, with the support of the Bicycle Mayor of Guwahati and Pedal for a Change, is conducting a survey for citizens to vote for the best routes for bicycle lanes in the city.
• A recent survey by the ITDP India Programme shows that cycling would increase by 50-65% as cities come out of lockdown.
• Cities around the world are leveraging the opportunity to expand their cycling networks and public bicycle-sharing systems.
• Further, increasing cycling can help cities in a green economic recovery.
• Investments in cycling infrastructure have economic benefits of up to 5.5 times the initial investment.
• Cycling for short distances can result in an annual benefit of Rs. 1.8 trillion to the Indian economy.