A Pathway to Cleaner Air and Healthier Cities
Wednesday, 3rd June 2026 | 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM | India International Centre (IIC), New Delhi
On the occasion of World Bicycling Day 2026, SmartBike, India’s largest Public Bike Sharing company, in association with the India International Centre (IIC), New Delhi and the World Cycling Alliance, Brussels, organized a National Seminar on “Smart & Sustainable Mobility Through Cycling: A Pathway to Cleaner Air and Healthier Cities” on 3rd June 2026, at the India International Centre (IIC) Annexe, New Delhi.
The seminar was conceived against the backdrop of an urgent and pressing reality: recent studies suggest that vehicular pollution & consequent very high AQI levels continue to severely diminish the quality of life and the very lifespan of citizens in Indian cities, particularly in Delhi. With the National Capital consistently ranking amongst the most polluted cities in the world, the need for credible, scalable and immediately actionable alternatives to fossil fuel-driven transport have become imperative. Cycling as an effective first-mile and last-mile connectivity solution and as a primary mode of sustainable urban mobility, offers precisely such an alternative and this National Seminar placed it firmly at the centre of national policy discourse.
The seminar brought together an exceptional panel of distinguished speakers. Shri K N Shrivastava, IAS, Director of the India International Centre & former Secretary Civil Aviation graced his presence as the Chief Guest of the National Seminar and shared his valuable thoughts about the concept of sustainable mobility and its ever increasing value in Delhi and NCR region. Shri D. V. Manohar, Chairman of SmartBike and First Vice President of the World Cycling Alliance, who prepared the draft National Cycling Policy as desired by the Government of India, made a presentation on the draft National Cycling Policy. Shri Mayank Srivastava, IPS, Deputy Director General of the Sports Authority of India, reinforced Government of India’s commitment to citizen fitness through active mobility.
The seminar was also addressed by Miss Rohina Gupta, Director Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, whose ministry oversees the Smart Cities Mission. Sir Graham Watson, President of the World Cycling Alliance, Brussels, brought a global perspective on cycling policy and urban mobility, drawing from best practices across Europe and beyond. Ms. Laurianne Krid, CEO of the European Cyclists’ Federation, offered insights from Europe’s most successful cycling economies.
The presence of the esteemed speakers of such repute lent the occasion particular gravitas, given that the challenge of vehicular pollution & consequent very high AQI levels are most acutely felt by the citizens of Delhi.
The distinguished speakers’ panel, along with Shri D. V. Manohar, also deliberated upon the forthcoming World Bicycle Day Mega Cycling Events scheduled to be organized on Sunday, 7th June 2026 in Hyderabad and Chandigarh, as an extension of the national effort to mainstream cycling as a pillar of sustainable urban mobility, citizen fitness and cleaner cities. The speakers emphasized that while policy formulation and institutional frameworks remain critical, public participation and community-led cycling movements are equally indispensable to bringing about meaningful behavioural change in urban mobility.
The Hyderabad celebration, being organized jointly by SmartBike Mobility and the Hyderabad Bicycling Club at the SmartBike Hub, Narsingi, Hyderabad from 6:00 AM onwards, is expected to witness participation from nearly 5,000 cyclists and fitness enthusiasts. The event shall be graced by Former Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, as the Chief Guest and shall feature 5 KM and 10 KM community cycling rides, road safety and cycling awareness initiatives, and a collective call for healthier and more sustainable lifestyles through active mobility.
Similarly, the Chandigarh celebration, being organized by SmartBike Mobility at the Art Gallery, Chandigarh from 6:00 AM onwards, is expected to bring together nearly 3,000 cyclists, families, students and community participants in a large-scale public celebration of cycling. Shri H. Rajesh Prasad, IAS, Chief Secretary, U.T. Chandigarh, shall grace the occasion as the Chief Guest. Together, the two events are expected to witness participation of over 8,000 cyclists across both cities, reinforcing the growing national momentum behind cycling as a catalyst for cleaner air, healthier citizens and smarter urban futures.
SmartBike, the principal organizer of the event, has established itself as the foremost name in Public Bike Sharing (PBS) in India, operating across multiple major cities with around 10,000 SmartBikes including Electric SmartBikes. Its Chandigarh PBS project has been conferred the First Prize in the Mobility & E-Governance category amongst all 100 Smart Cities in India by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, an honour conferred by the Hon’ble President of India in September 2023. SmartBike was also among the handful of startups selected by Startup India to present policy recommendations directly to the Hon’ble Prime Minister and those recommendations are being implemented. SmartBike additionally collaborates with the Indian Defence Forces, with its initiatives having been inaugurated by Former CDS General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Personnel of the Indian Navy Sanjay Bhalla, and Major General Sanjay Chandra Kandpal.
The National Seminar on 3rd June 2026 was more than just a conference; it was a call to action. As India’s cities grapple with the compounding challenges of pollution, congestion, and public health, the seminar sought to catalyse a national conversation that translates awareness into policy, and policy into change. SmartBike, the World Cycling Alliance, and the India International Centre had invited all stakeholders committed to building smarter, greener, and healthier cities to be a part of this important initiative. The clarion call was clear: “Be the Future Maker”