RURAL CYCLING TO SCHOOL DOUBLES IN INDIA: NEW STUDY

According to a new research study published in ‘Journal of Transport Geography’, there has been a rapid rise of cycling to school in rural India. Bicycle distribution schemes have contributed to the growth of cycling and the researchers call it ‘A silent revolution.’

Three students – Srishti Agrawal, Adit Seth and Rahul Goel from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies Mumbai have conducted a detailed study of the impact of Bicycle Distribution Scheme (BDS) in India.

The study says, cycling to school improves access to education for children, provides them physical activity benefits, and gives them independence in mobility. There is a poor understanding of the levels of cycling to school, who cycles, and how these behaviours have changed over time in India.

The research addresses this major research gap using data from the three rounds, covering a decade (2007, 2014, and 2017), of a population-representative nationwide education survey of a sample of households in India.

The dataset reported the mode of transport to school. The students conducted a national and sub-national (35 states of India) exploratory analyses of longitudinal changes in cycling to school by trip distance, age and gender, and urban and rural residence, for school-going children aged 5–17 years.

The students gathered information on bicycle distribution schemes (BDS) implemented in multiple Indian states, under which school-going children are provided free bicycles by the government, and tested the impact of such schemes on cycling levels.

Findings suggests – Nationally, cycling to school levels increased from 6.6% to 11.2% over the decade (2007 to 2017). These levels nearly doubled in rural India (6.3% to 12.3%) while remaining stable (7.8% to 8.3%) in urban areas.

Among the four population sub-groups (rural/urban x female/male), the largest increase in cycling was among girls in rural areas.

Nationally, the gender gap in cycling reduced in rural areas through an increase in cycling among girls and, in urban areas, through a reduction of cycling among boys.

In rural areas, cycling increased across all distance ranges, except for >5 km where it reduced, and in urban areas, cycling reduced the most for >3 km.

The students found strong evidence that BDS helped increase cycling levels in states where it was implemented and their greatest impact was for cycling among rural girls.

Gender norms, affordability of bicycles, distance to school, and safety on roads are likely the major determinants of cycling to school in India.

BDS was introduced in the year 2006-07 with a goal to empower the students, especially the girls and reduce drop outs in higher education.

Source: Journal of Transport Geography

Cover image credit: Unsplash.com

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