WHO’s road safety toolkit aligns with CUMTA’s mobility plan, says Bicycle Mayor of Chennai

Felix John, Bicycle Mayor of Chennai, presents his wish list, which includes the creation of an “Active Mobility Cell” for walking and cycling in Chennai; and more community volunteering efforts to make the city safer for users of non-motorised transport

Institutions and municipal bodies seeking to promote non-motorised forms of transport with a girding of safety now have a guiding light — “Make Walking and Cycling Safe”, launched by the World Health Organisation at the Eighth United Nations Global Road Safety Week (May 12 to 18).

Designed for policy makers, governments, civil society organisations, private sector, and other stakeholders in planning, implementing, and evaluating efforts in integrating walking and cycling into transport, health, environmental and education policies, the toolkit calls for bold action in promoting safe road use through public awareness and behaviour change campaigns.

It features case studies to showcase real-world examples of how these policy options are being successfully put into practice.

Felix John, Bicycle Mayor of Chennai, says the toolkit aligns perfectly with the “Comprehensive Mobility Plan” being readied by Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA). “By putting safety and accessibility in the forefront, it gives legitimacy to community efforts,” says John, an advocate for active mobility.

The toolkit can guide CUMTA, CMDA, GCC, GTP to enforce safer speed limits, create calming infrastructure at school zones and protect cycling and walking infrastructure. “While we have seen efforts by civil society organisations and the local body to promote non-motorised form of transport, there is always more credibility when WHO collaborates for this initiative,” says John.

John says Chennai is one of the first states to launch the Non-Motorised Transport Policy, when it did so in 2014 with the help of ITDP. “We have a policy but not much emphasis is being placed on implementation or adoption. Priority is being given to a vehicle-centric approach,” says John.

John Felix’s wish list includes creation of an “Active Mobility Cell” for walking and cycling in Chennai. “More community volunteers should be invited to be part of efforts to make the city safer for non-motorised transport,” adds John.