With Covid on the rise again, changes to commuting patterns and travel behaviour is beyond doubt. In 2020, as the pandemic brought cities to a halt, staying at home opened people’s willingness to commute via foot or cycle to reach essential services. Since then, cities have been forced to rethink and reshape their public spaces, streets, public transport and shift focus on people. Unfortunately, as soon as restrictions were lifted, roads were taken over by motorists en masse and cities are now grappling with traffic congestion all over again. How do we make our cities more resilient with Covid on the rise again?

With the intent to develop a long term behavioral change in citizens towards taking up walking and cycling, and to make city leaders as walking and cycling champions in each city, Smart Cities Mission, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has launched two unique national level Challenges for the first time: “Freedom 2 Walk & Cycle Challenge for City Leaders” & “Inter- City Freedom 2 Walk & Cycle Challenge for Citizens” between 1st to 26th January 2022. ITDP India is the knowledge partner of Smart Cities Mission for the two Challenges.

Freedom 2 Walk & Cycle builds on the success of the two national-level Challenges – India Cycles4Change Challenge and the Streets4People Challenge by MoHUA and ITDP India, which was launched in 2020 to encourage cities adopt a healthy walking and cycling culture, during the pandemic.

Progress

75 cities have registered so far for the Inter-City Challenge with over 12,600 citizens sign-ups. 66 cities and nearly 300 leaders comprising Commissioners, Additional/Joint/Deputy Commissioner, Smart City CEOs and Key SPV Officials have signed up so far for the city leaders Challenge.

The participants will be required to track their walk & cycle activities daily and best performing cities will be awarded. Citizens interested to join the Freedom 2 Walk & Cycle Inter-City Challenge can register for their respective city through the website: https://www.allforsport.in/challenges or through the registration links shared by the official social media handle of the city corporation.

“I have started cycling more often to work and for recreation over the last couple of years. Not only have I become more physically and mentally fit, it has given me a different perspective towards looking at the city and its needs. Cycling is a humble yet very powerful tool that can transform the cities we live in. I urge all city leaders and citizens to experience their cities through walk and cycle and become champions who inspire others’ _ Kunal Kumar, Joint Secretary, Smart Cities Mission, MoHUA

Background

As a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, MoHUA organized a successful nationwide campaign titled “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav- Freedom 2 Walk & Cycle” between October 1-3, 2021. The 100 Smart Cities  actively hosted over 220+ events, to promote walking and cycling. The events ranged from activities to empower women & children to walk and cycle, to bring more pedestrians and cyclists to the streets, testing temporary interventions and more.

What next?

If you are a citizen interested in taking part in Freedom2Walk&Cycle sign-up now on https://www.allforsport.in/challenges 

Winners will be announced after January 26, 2022.

Watch this space for how cities and their leaders encourage the entire nation to get active and rise above the pandemic stronger and healthier.