Every Saturday, Shankar Yadav dusts off an old bike and pedals to work, reliving his carefree schooldays and hoping fellow Indians will join him in ditching motor vehicles.
In one of India’s most ambitious such plans, Ranchi city’s “har shanivar, no car” — “every Saturday, no car” — campaign goes well beyond other towns that have banned cars from a few lanes for set hours of the weekend.
“We are a small city and studies have shown that most residents live within a 5km radius of their workplace, school or markets,” said Yadav, a deputy commissioner with the Ranchi Municipal Corp. “Though there is no law to implement this idea, we are hoping that people will embrace it because it is very doable here.”
“Barring the elderly, our analysis shows that most people can easily switch to a bicycle or walk,” he said.
The scheme began this month.
Ranchi is among many Indian cities trying new ways to tackle worsening air quality, be it with pop-up cycle tracks, free cycle repair clinics or pedestrian-only streets.
Akanksha, a first-time rider in Ranchi, said that she enjoyed the ride and was “quite excited” by the eco-rationale.
“I did have to deal with the city traffic and the pollution, but am hoping as the idea catches on these problems will get addressed,” said the music teacher, who goes by just one name.
“I think cycling with a guitar might be difficult, but I definitely wanted to set an example for my students,” Akanksha said.
Bad air was linked to 1.24 million deaths, or one in eight of those who died, in India’s latest nationwide pollution study.
Ranchi, the captial of Jharkhand State with an urban population of 1.5 million people, has ambient air pollution levels that are seven times higher than WHO recommended standards, studies have shown.
It has also been identified by the Indian National Clean Air Programme as one of 122 “non-attainment cities” that consistently fall short of national standards.
“It is a welcome move and heartening to know that smaller cities are starting these initiatives,” said Sarika Panda, who set up the country’s first lasting motor vehicle-free initiative in 2013. “This is a good time to push for this switch, as people are more aware and understand the need to reduce their carbon footprint.”
Ahead of launch, Ranchi built 50 bike stands where residents can rent wheels by the hour.
Cycle tracks are due to follow.
While the city is compact, urban planners welcome even these small and “symbolic gesture,” as they foster awareness and force authorities to improve facilities for walkers and cyclists.
Citing Shimla in Himachal Pradesh, home to one of India’s oldest pedestrian-only streets, researchers say that momentum and longevity are the keys to clean air in the long term.
“Any intervention that cuts air pollution is good, but if there are many exceptions to the rule, then there will be no benefits,” said Sarath Guttikunda, director of UrbanEmissions.Info, an independent research body.
“If we really have no cars running on the roads for 24 hours, it will make a difference,” Guttikunda said. “Otherwise, in small events like a no vehicle street for a day, it is difficult to measure change. They are just good awareness exercises.”
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