Active Mobility

Context: The issue of increasing pedestrian and cyclist deaths has renewed focus on active mobility in Indian cities.

About Active Mobility:

• What is Active Mobility? Active mobility refers to human-powered modes of transport, such as walking, cycling, and skateboarding, used for commuting purposes, not leisure or sports.

• Active mobility refers to human-powered modes of transport, such as walking, cycling, and skateboarding, used for commuting purposes, not leisure or sports.

• Key Characteristics: Non-motorised and emission-free: Uses human energy instead of fossil fuels. Low infrastructure cost: Requires basic road and lane infrastructure, not flyovers or expressways. Inclusive and equitable: Promotes mobility access for all, regardless of socio-economic class.

• Non-motorised and emission-free: Uses human energy instead of fossil fuels.

• Low infrastructure cost: Requires basic road and lane infrastructure, not flyovers or expressways.

• Inclusive and equitable: Promotes mobility access for all, regardless of socio-economic class.

• Significance of active mobility: Environmental Sustainability: Reduces vehicular emissions, supports climate targets under the Paris Agreement, and lowers fuel dependency. Health Improvement: Encourages physical activity, curbs lifestyle diseases, and enhances public health as recognized by Economic Efficiency: Lowers household transport costs, reduces healthcare spending, and supports local businesses through increased footfall. Urban Inclusivity: Minimizes congestion, improves safety, and aligns with Smart Cities and urban transport policies for equitable access.

• Environmental Sustainability: Reduces vehicular emissions, supports climate targets under the Paris Agreement, and lowers fuel dependency.

• Health Improvement: Encourages physical activity, curbs lifestyle diseases, and enhances public health as recognized by

• Economic Efficiency: Lowers household transport costs, reduces healthcare spending, and supports local businesses through increased footfall.

• Urban Inclusivity: Minimizes congestion, improves safety, and aligns with Smart Cities and urban transport policies for equitable access.

Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus:

• GS Paper 1 – Urbanization Addresses issues of urban transport, infrastructure development, and inclusive mobility in growing cities.

• Addresses issues of urban transport, infrastructure development, and inclusive mobility in growing cities.

• GS Paper 2 – Governance & Social Justice Relates to policy formulation like the Karnataka Active Mobility Bill, and citizen-centric initiatives.

• Relates to policy formulation like the Karnataka Active Mobility Bill, and citizen-centric initiatives.

• GS Paper 3 – Environment & Sustainable Development Supports climate change mitigation, Paris Agreement commitments, and energy conservation. Connects to sustainable infrastructure, public health, and pollution control.

• Supports climate change mitigation, Paris Agreement commitments, and energy conservation.

• Connects to sustainable infrastructure, public health, and pollution control.