As one of the world’s densest urban areas, (18 million people), the city of Mumbai, India is choking – from congestion on the roadways and footpaths, and smog that hangs in the hot, humid air.  If an open space appears, it is quickly filled with variety of buildings, vehicles, people, and animals. The city presents a serious lack of public space. Therefore residents gathered in late March at a public forum to discuss how their quality of life could be improved through better bicycle infrastructure.

Faizan Jawed, a young Indian architect and Colin Christopher, an American graduate student, organised the public forum through a new initiative entitled, The Open Bicycle Project. In opposition to the communal divisions of India, the organisers targeted a diverse audience. Discussants ranged from the cosmopolitan, rich English-speaking suburban population to working-class residents who use bicycles for their daily work.

Importance was stressed on raising awareness and action at the grassroots-level and examples pointed of the successes in other Indian cities as encouraging signs of progress.

While bicycle infrastructure and related issues were not taken seriously during this election season, congestion, pollution, and pathways for India’s millions of bicyclists will have to be addressed sooner or later – whether politicians like it or not.

“If we don’t have parking on one side of the street, we can make that space the area for bicycle lanes,” suggested a nine-year-old avid bicyclist.

by Faizan Jawed