With increasing urban sprawl and rising income levels, non-motorized transport has lost its earlier importance. Statistics show that the share of bicycle trips out of the total trips in Delhi has declined from 17% in 1981 to 7% in 1994. The longer trip lengths have made cycling more difficult. Further, non-motorized modes are also exposed to greater risk of accidents as they share a common right of way with motorized vehicles. However, non-motorized modes are environmentally friendly and have to be given their due share in the transport system of a city. The problems being faced by them would have to be mitigated.

First of all, the safety concerns of cyclists and pedestrians have to be addressed by encouraging the construction of segregated rights of way for bicycles and pedestrians. Apart from improving safety, the segregation of vehicles moving at different speeds would help improve traffic flow, increase the average speed of traffic and reduce emissions resulting from sub-optimal speeds. Such segregated paths would be useful not only along arterials, to enable full trips using NMT but also as a means of improving access to major public transport stations. Such access paths, coupled with safe bicycle parking places, would contribute towards increasing the use of public transport. Creative facilities like shade giving landscaping, provision of drinking water and resting stations along bicycle corridors would also be encouraged as they can mitigate, to a large extent, adverse weather conditions. The use of the central verge along many roads, along with innovatively designed road crossings, seems to offer promise for being developed as cycle tracks.

It has been the experience that many such cycle tracks and pedestrian paths do not get used as initially envisaged. However, a view has been that this is because these facilities are designed badly and without fully recognizing the limitations and problems faced by cyclists or pedestrians. It would, therefore, be essential that such facilities be constructed after an open debate on the designs with experts and the community that is expected to use them. It is expected that such public appraisal would lead to designs that enable greater use by the potential beneficiaries. Encroachment of footpaths too affects pedestrian safety adversely and requires strict enforcement coupled with public participation. Pedestrian safety is also adversely affected by the lack of safe crossing facilities at busy intersections of even high traffic corridors.

The Central Government would give priority to the construction of cycle tracks and pedestrian paths in all cities, under the National Urban Renewal Mission (NURM), to enhance safety and thereby enhance use of non-motorized modes. Cities would also be encouraged to explore the possibility of a public bicycle program, where people can rent a bicycle for use in specially designated areas

The Central government would support the construction of safe pedestrian crossings at busy intersections and high traffic corridors.

The Central Government would support formulation and implementation of specific "Area Plans" in congested urban areas that propose appropriate mix of various modes of transport including exclusive zones for non-motorized transit.

The Central Government would also take up pilot projects, in a sample set of cities, to demonstrate the improvements that are possible through the enhanced used of cycling, for possible replication in other cities.