Transport experts and community-based organizations came together to discuss how to make Indian cities more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly during two workshops organized by the Interface for Cycling Expertise, a Netherlands-based nonprofit that works to develop sustainable urban and transport plans

The day-long workshops about "active transport" (i.e. bicycling and walking) were held on February 27 in Nanded and March 8 in Pune, two cities in India's western state of Maharashtra. They were organized as part of I-CE's Locomotives program, an initiative launched in 2003 that seeks to increase mobility and share knowledge between civil society organizations around the world.

Discussions held during the workshop will be written into formal guidelines that city governments and local agencies in India can use to design, plan and implement cycling master plans and policies.

Seema Parakh, institutional relations director for the Center for Sustainable Transport India (CST-India) was invited by I-CE's India chapter to speak about advocacy strategies used to promote bicycling and walking in Mumbai.

The workshop agenda also included presentations about the history of non-motorized transport in India, as well as barriers to mobility faced by pedestrians, cyclists and cycle-rickshaws. Workshop participants had the chance to compare India's cycling plans with other countries around the world.

Presenters included representatives from cities like Pune, Delhi, Alware and Surat.

The workshops were held in association with the Green City Cycling Club of Nanded, the Nanded Waghala City Municipal Corporation and the Pune Municipal Corporation.

The Nanded and Pune workshops were similar to the Cycling Inclusive Planning Workshop held in Bangalore in January that was sponsored by The RideACycle Foundation, a not-for-profit advocacy organization and EMBARQ Network partner.