Ahmedabad’s expanding road network and rapid motorisation are steadily eroding the city’s once-visible cycling culture, raising fresh concerns over sustainable mobility, road safety and equitable urban transport planning.
Urban mobility experts say the absence of dedicated cycling corridors across key city routes has made commuting by bicycle increasingly unsafe, forcing many residents to abandon non-motorised transport in favour of scooters and motorcycles. The shift is occurring despite mounting concerns over congestion, fuel costs and deteriorating urban air quality in fast-growing Indian cities. Officials and transport observers note that Ahmedabad currently lacks a continuous, functional cycle-track network, even as several global cities continue investing heavily in low-carbon commuting systems. Earlier pilot cycling lanes developed along select stretches, including parts of eastern and western Ahmedabad, were eventually removed or absorbed into expanding vehicular traffic corridors. The decline of cycling infrastructure is becoming particularly visible amid the city’s broader urban redevelopment push. Recent road modernisation projects focused on widening carriageways, beautification and traffic flow improvements, but many did not incorporate protected space for cyclists or pedestrians. Urban planners argue that such omissions risk reinforcing automobile dependence at a time when Indian cities are under pressure to reduce transport emissions and improve liveability.
The shrinking cycling ecosystem is also affecting everyday mobility choices for families and students. Parents increasingly view cycling on busy arterial roads as unsafe due to speeding traffic, encroachment and the absence of segregated lanes. As a result, younger commuters are shifting earlier towards motorised two-wheelers, altering travel habits that once supported low-cost and environmentally sustainable movement across neighbourhoods. Local bicycle retailers say consumer behaviour has changed sharply over the past decade. Sales that were once driven by daily commuters and students are now largely limited to children and low-income users. Traders attribute the slowdown not only to changing aspirations but also to the lack of public infrastructure that makes cycling practical and safe within dense urban conditions. The situation contrasts with several Indian cities that have continued investing in non-motorised transport systems. Cities such as Chandigarh and Pune have retained extensive cycle-track networks, while newer urban projects in other regions are experimenting with integrated green mobility corridors designed to support both active transport and climate resilience goals.
Transport policy specialists believe Ahmedabad’s mobility future will increasingly depend on how the city balances road expansion with people-centric infrastructure. They argue that cycling infrastructure should not be treated as a recreational add-on but as a core urban service linked to public health, affordable commuting and emission reduction. With rising heat stress, traffic congestion and pollution levels affecting urban life across western India, experts say cities may soon face growing pressure to redesign streets not only for vehicles, but also for safer, cleaner and more inclusive mobility choices.
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