CONTENTS Chapter I. INTRODUCTION 14 I.1 Introduction 14 I.2 Need of Study 14 I.3 Research Questions 16 I.4 Aim of Study 16 I.5 Objectives 16 I.6 Research Methodology 16 I.7 Data Collection 18 I.7.1 Primary data sources 18 I.7.2 Secondary data sources 19 I.8 Limitations 20 I.9 Chapter Organization 20 Chapter II. CYCLING IN INDIAN CITIES 22 II.1 Overview of Literature 22 II.2 Cycling in Indian cities, Reasons for decline and impacts of motorization 23 II.3 Global shift towards cycling 28 II.4 Case of Netherlands 30 II.4.1 Cycling in the Netherlands 30 II.5 Why cycling is Important to be preserved and promoted in a city 31 II.5.1 Benefits of greater role of cycling in a city 33 II.6 Initiatives by MOUD and National Urban Transport Policy, 2006 34 II.7 Findings from literature review 37 Chapter III. STUDY AREA PROFILE: AHMEDABAD CITY 40 III.1 General Profile 40 III.1.1 Demarcation of study area 41 III.1.2 Brief Statistics: Ahmedabad City 42 III.1.3 City Growth 42 III.1.4 Location & Climate 42 III.2 Demographic Profile 43 III.2.2 Income Distribution 45 III.3 Slums in Ahmedabad city and Urban Poor 47 III.4 Travel characteristics 49 III.4.1 Traffic Generating Activities 49 III.4.2 Employment generation 50 III.4.3 Vehicle Ownership 52 III.4.4 Modal Choice 54 III.5 Bicycle Trips 55 III.5.1 Age wise percentage distribution of bicycle trips 56 III.5.2 Accidents 57 III.6 Conclusions 58 Chapter IV. CYCLISTS OF AHMEDABAD CITY 60 IV.1 Structuring of primary survey 60 IV.2 Occupation Characteristics 62 IV.2.1 Economic sector 62 IV.2.2 Self-employment 63 IV.2.3 Travel requirements for livelihood 64 IV.3 Income Characteristics 66 IV.4 Work-Trip Characteristics 67 IV.5 Bicycle ownership and maintenance 68 IV.6 Age-groups and cycling since 69 IV.7 Perception of cyclists 70 IV.8 Summary and Findings 71 Chapter V. AREA STUDY: VASNA 72 V.1 Spatial Study: Gupta Nagar na Chapra 72 V.2 Cycling in Vasna Ward 72 V.3 Summary and findings 74 Chapter VI. ON-RENT BICYCLE PROVIDERS 76 VI.1 Introduction 76 VI.2 Locating and Structuring the surveys 76 VI.3 Establishment and infrastructure 79 VI.4 Bicycles and fleet characteristics 79 VI.5 Management and Employee structure 80 VI.6 User Identification and Customer Records 80 VI.7 Deposit and Security mechanisms 80 VI.8 Rates and Charging mechanisms 81 VI.9 Revenues 81 VI.10 Maintenance and expenses 82 VI.11 Theft and vandalism issues 82 VI.12 Summary and Issues for Providers 83 VI.13 Clientele and users of rental bikes 84 VI.14 Summary and Identified Issues for users 85 Chapter VII. CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS 86 VII.1 Conclusion of the study 86 VII.2 Recommendations for cyclists 87 VII.2.1 Addressing safety issues 87 VII.2.2 Formation of Bicycle User groups 88 VII.2.3 Increasing affordability of bicycles 90 VII.3 Recommendations for on-rent bicycle providers 91 VII.3.1 Institutional and lending support 91 VII.3.2 Integration with Public Transport 91 VII.3.3 Regulation of On-rent Providers 95 VII.4 Application of study in the way Ahead 97