Road vehicular emissions are one of the leading contributors to air pollution globally. In the year 2019, air pollution caused about 21% of total deaths (122,833 deaths) in Bengal which is the second-highest after Rajasthan. A source apportionment study by CSIR-NEERI in 2019 revealed that vehicular emissions contribute to up to 30% of particulate matter emissions in Kolkata. If this current trend in particulate matter pollution continues for another couple of years, Kolkata will soon crash into another impending health crisis.
The Kolkata Police placed cycling restrictions on around 36 streets in 2008, which were later expanded to 174 routes in 2013. After being subjected to widespread protests, the Kolkata Police reduced the limitations to 62 roads that continue to exist to date, affecting the livelihoods of thousands of people who rely only on cycling for transportation. Taking action ahead of the curve on the need to shift to sustainable mobility options by incorporating Kolkata’s very own bicycles, SwitchOn Foundation initiated a city-wide campaign #BringbackCycles on Kolkata Roads to which we organized a series of activities to raise awareness on the need for cycling.
Street art and graffiti paintings
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