ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the histories, practices and socio-economic groups engaged in cycling in Indian cities. An important pathway to better conditions for urban cycling in Indian cities requires an alliance between affluent cyclists and the everyday cyclists to demand a better cycling environment. Cycling moved from being a legitimate and preferred mode of movement in the 1950s to an unimportant, neglected and some cases, illegitimate, mode of transport in the Indian city by the early 2000s. Since then, there have been many efforts to change the direction of the urban transport policies and infrastructure building towards sustainable modes of transport. The Pune Bicycle Plan of 2017 was the culmination of several efforts by various stakeholders to promote cycling as an efficient alternative to motorized transport. The chapter argues that there needs to be concerted efforts toward making cycling safe, accessible, and affordable for all kinds of user groups.
