05/06/2026
03 June – World Bicycle Day
05 June – World Environment Day
To celebrate United Nations World Bicycle Day, we organized a small morning ride through Delhi.
It was a typical June morning—hot, humid, and a reminder of how our cities are increasingly turning into urban heat islands. In times like these, one simple machine has the potential to make a remarkable difference: the bicycle.
Yet, perhaps we need to start looking at bicycles differently—not as a poor person's vehicle, but as a powerful tool for creating healthier, cleaner, and more livable cities.
Whenever we talk about cycling as a solution for urban mobility, the response is often predictable:
"Cycling is not practical."
"I worked hard to own a car."
"Why would a CEO, officer, manager, or business leader ride a bicycle?"
In India, we have long associated vehicles with status and success. But true progress is not measured by how many cars a city owns. As the famous quote goes:
"A developed country is not a place where the poor own cars, but where the rich use public transport."
Perhaps in our context, we can extend that thought further: a truly developed city is one where people choose to cycle because it is safe, convenient, and enjoyable.
Delhi can become a cycle-friendly city too. Here are a few simple steps we can all take:
1. Use a bicycle for short trips.
Buying vegetables, visiting a local market, meeting a friend nearby, or running daily errands does not always require an SUV or a motorbike. Many of these trips can comfortably be made by bicycle.
2. Demand safe cycling infrastructure.
If cycling feels unsafe, raise the issue with your local representatives—your MLA, MP, municipal councillor, or resident welfare association. Safe, connected cycling networks can transform the way people move around a city.
3. Integrate cycling with public transport.
Write to DMRC and support the creation of free, secure, and covered bicycle parking at every Metro station. Encourage pilot projects that allow standard bicycles on Metro trains during non-peak hours. The combination of cycling and Metro travel can be a game-changer for Delhi.
In a megacity like Delhi, meaningful environmental change will not come from a single large project. It will come from millions of small decisions made every day by ordinary citizens. Integrating bicycles into daily life is one such decision that can improve air quality, reduce congestion, enhance public health, and make our city more human.
What do you think Delhi should do to become more cycle-friendly? Share your suggestions in the comments.
We would also like to thank Australia in India, the EU in India, and the Sri Lanka High Commission in New Delhi for joining us on this special ride. Together, we shared stories of our city and celebrated a vision for a greener, healthier, and more bicycle-friendly future.
