On December 10 from 2-3 PM, cyclists from all walks of life in Kolkata came together in College Square for a peaceful gathering to mark the UN’s International Human Rights Day 2022. They called attention to the antiquated bicycle ban on more than 70 city streets, saying that it violates the human rights of green commuters who directly protect the city’s air quality and fight climate change.

The cycling community emphasised during this activity that it is also an issue of social justice for a city like Kolkata where a significant portion of daily urban commuters—many of whom are employed as gig workers—rely on bicycles to go to their places of employment. Citing all these justifications, the bikers delivered a letter to the police commissioner pleading with him to recognise the current restriction and how it is resulting in harassment of cyclists on the streets and requesting him to take actions that encourage riding in the city rather than restrict it.

In terms of air pollution, Kolkata ranked eighth out of the top 10 cities worldwide on December 1, 2022.

Thankfully, the cyclists of Kolkata have been actively advocating to lift the current cycle prohibition for years. Kolkata is recognised for its progressive people, who wouldn’t hesitate to urge what is right. Additionally, civil society organizations like the SwitchOn Foundation aggressively promote the use of sustainable transportation options and conduct frequent outreach and engagement activities to encourage cycling among communities.

In many cities throughout the world, including Kolkata, there is a rising cycling movement that is encouraging people to transition away from carbon emissions.

Therefore, in addition to providing more space for cyclists, which is part of their fundamental right to choose the mode of transportation that best suits their needs, the government must also actively encourage people to use bicycles, footpaths, and public transportation in order to uphold these individuals’ fundamental rights and to advance a number of UN Sustainable Development Goals.