The more space we give to cars, the more they take. In the meantime, rather than smooth movement, we get ever-worsening congestion and pollution, and increasing road injuries and deaths. And there is no space for everything else that matters besides transport!

But a revolution is happening, including in India, to reclaim space for all the other things that matter, including socializing and play. Small and medium Indian cities, with support from HealthBridge and our local partner ESAF, are organizing Cycle Days where streets are opened up for use by cyclists and for everyone to enjoy themselves.

We are organizing Walk and Cycle to School events where children happily exercise independent mobility. And we are making parks inclusive so that they welcome people with special needs and help give them a pleasant park experience. And, most surprisingly of all to those of us who have campaigned for it for years, an experiment is ongoing to make Commercial Street in Bangalore pedestrian...taking back the space from the pollution, noise, and danger of cars.

For one example of all this work, watch this video: Thrissur Celebrates International Car-free Day! Read more about it here.