cars

Indian city roads witness a David-Goliath tussle everyday between cycles and motorised transport. And the latter still holds a big advantage. As more and more cities formally launch bike sharing programmes, will the commoner take to cycling in a big way, given the safety concerns?

To protest potholes, axe-wielding men of the Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS) dig up a well-laid footpath. Government authorities evict vendors from station premises and allow car parking in the space. Who cares for the pedestrian in Mumbai?

Carpooling can provide a comfortable alternative to private transport, while reducing congestion on city roads. But many factors like novelty of the concept and lack of government support are holding back companies in the space.

Cheap, environment-friendly and easy, carpooling is slowly gaining in popularity, especially among office-goers, and could potentially reduce congestion on crowded city roads.

Cycle days, Raahgiri, Pathotsav — events that promote pedestrian-only zones are catching on in a big way, but the larger question of whether they can have a real, sustainable impact on how people commute in cities remains to be decided.