Civic body seeks tips to make Chennai cycle friendly – Times of India

Chennai News

CHENNAI: Greater Chennai Corporation, in a bid to encourage citizen participation in making the city cycle-friendly, has asked Chennaiites to post 20-second videos or selfies with suggestions to develop cycling infrastructure and personal preferences. The challenge ‘Cycles4change’ is part of nation-wide efforts by the ministry of housing and urban affairs.
In the first leg, the civic body is planning to set up 30km of cycle tracks, with 17km laid already.
“Chennaiites can share their cycling preferences through a survey (https://forms.gle/7Q4RFUBy8QGQ7JAZ7) and also send a 20-second video clip sharing their experiences or thoughts about cycling in the city. The video can be sent on WhatsApp to +91-9445190856 and will be published on the social media pages of Chennai Smart City Limited, appreciating their participation,” said an official. The challenge has had about 15 videos posted and 2,000 forms filled out so far.
The survey holds importance as citizen collaboration is one of the major aspects for evaluating smartcity proposals. The agency has already called for designs to create low-cost interventions like pop-up cycle lanes and traffic-calmed or non-motorized zones. “We will also hold events to ensure more people use cycles,” the official added.
The mission has been launched in 141 smart cities with more than five lakh population, including Erode, Thanjavur, Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Trichy, Tirupur, Salem, Madurai and Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.
The Cycles4change mission comprises two stages — the first one where the cities document one pilot project, create a concept plan to scale it up, community engagement and communication plan, financial plan; and the second stage where the project is implemented.
The India Programme of the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) is the knowledge partner of the Smart Cities Mission in conducting this challenge and guiding cities through it.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/civic-body-seeks-tips-to-make-chennai-cycle-friendly/articleshow/77830774.cms