Reduction in transport emissions needs safer cyclists, not just EVs: Study by IIT, University of Chicago
Published in Nature Cities on Tuesday, the study titled 'The status and politics of bicycling in the cities of low- and middle-income countries' pointed out that transport contributes nearly 30% of greenhouse gas emissions in major Indian cities.
Many described the bicycle as the cheapest reliable way to reach work. Over two-thirds (67%) of respondents in Delhi ride "steel-frame fixed-gear roadsters" rather than mountain or gear bikes. As incomes rise, the study noted, many shift to motorcycles. (Representational Image: PTI)
Protecting cyclists on Delhi roads by coming up with continuous networks and safe crossings could deliver rapid climate and public health benefits, according to a study conducted by researchers from IIT Delhi and the University of Chicago.
Published in Nature Cities on Tuesday, the study titled ‘The status and politics of bicycling in the cities of low- and middle-income countries’ pointed out that transport contributes nearly 30% of greenhouse gas emissions in major Indian cities. The researchers said that current policy attention on electric vehicles and isolated cycle tracks misses safeguarding the large, low-income workforce that continues to rely on bicycles for daily commuting.
They study combined roadside surveys, interviews and street observations in Delhi, Chennai, Dhaka and Accra. Their evidence shows cycling is concentrated among lower-income workers, while official attention tends to follow affluent, recreational cycling.
It identified a disconnect between transport policy and urban mobility patterns in Delhi and Chennai. While policy documents prioritise electric vehicles and public transit under the assumption that bicycling has nearly diminished, the study stressed that high volumes of bicycling persist on specific corridors in Delhi, among other major cities.
In Delhi’s arterial-road sample, riders were almost entirely low-income men commuting long distances. The average reported trip lasted about 47 minutes, according to the study.
Many described the bicycle as the cheapest reliable way to reach work. Over two-thirds (67%) of respondents in Delhi ride “steel-frame fixed-gear roadsters” rather than mountain or gear bikes. As incomes rise, the study noted, many shift to motorcycles.
There is a clear infrastructural mismatch, the study noted. Where cycle tracks exist, they are often short, disconnected segments placed in better-off neighbourhoods. On working-class corridors, cyclists face high-speed traffic, flyovers and junctions designed for uninterrupted car movement. Even dedicated tracks are frequently blocked by parked vehicles, vendors, debris and motorcycles using them to bypass congestion, pushing cyclists back into mixed traffic, the study said.
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Cyclists also compensate with improvised safety practices. Delhi riders reported repurposing removable road reflectors to increase nighttime visibility. Women cyclists, including migrants, often avoid arterials altogether, staying on residential streets and dismounting to walk bicycles across dangerous crossings, researchers found.
Citing that the transport sector is the major cause of pollution, the study recommended that protecting the cyclists could deliver rapid health and climate benefits in the Indian megacities, including Delhi.
Sophiya Mathew is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in New Delhi. She joined the Delhi bureau in 2024, and has specialization in Integrated Multimedia Journalism from the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai.
Professional Background
Core Beats: Her reporting is primarily focused on the Environment and Education.
Specialization: She has gained recognition for her ground-level reporting on the Yamuna floodplains and the socio-economic challenges faced by those living on its banks. She also focuses on the disparities in Delhi's education system, ranging from elite private schools to government institutions and refugee education.
Recent Notable Articles (December 2025)
Her recent work has been heavily centered on Delhi's severe winter pollution crisis and the government's regulatory responses:
1. The Air Pollution Crisis
"A tale of two cities: Delhi govt schools choke in bad air, private classrooms set up air filters" (Dec 20, 2025): A high-impact feature contrasting the "Clean Air Bubbles" in elite schools with the reality of government school students who are exposed to an equivalent of 17 cigarettes a day due to outdoor exposure.
"Delhi sees season's worst air day, second worst December AQI in nearly a decade" (Dec 15, 2025): An analytical report on the meteorological patterns trapping pollutants in the NCR.
"Delhi bans non-BS VI vehicles from outside: Why curbing vehicular pollution is key" (Dec 17, 2025): Explaining the science behind targeting specific vehicle vintages to lower particulate matter.
2. Enforcement & Regulations
"No fuel at pumps in Delhi without valid PUC certificate from December 18" (Dec 17, 2025): Breaking the news on the environment ministry's strict "No PUC, No Fuel" policy.
3. Education Policy
"Law to regulate school fee in Delhi risks becoming procedural, say parents" (Dec 13, 2025): Investigating the loopholes in the new Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025.
"Monsoon Session: Private school fee regulation Bill cleared after four-hour debate" (Aug 9, 2025): Covering the legislative passage of the controversial fee hike regulation.
Signature Style
Sophiya is known for her observational depth. Her reporting often includes vivid details from school corridors, hospital waitlists, or the banks of the Yamuna to illustrate how policy failures affect the city's most vulnerable residents. She is a frequent expert guest on the 3 Things podcast, where she explains the complexities of Delhi’s environmental laws.
X (Twitter): @SophiyaMathew1 ... Read More
