Indian City Says No To Bicycles

05:03

October 03, 2013

Activists march with bicycles and posters during an awareness rally on environment friendly non-polluting transport in Kolkata, India, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013. The activists demanded that the authorities withdraw the restrictions on cycles and other non-motorized transport in Kolkata’s main streets. (Bikas Das/AP)

At a time when many American cities are encouraging people to peddle to work, bikes and other non-motorized vehicles are being banned from the streets of Kolkata, India (also known as Calcutta).

Police say the narrow and congested roads are just too crowded with cars, trucks and buses, so the bikes have to go. But many cyclists are balking at the ban and are still using their bicycles to commute.

BBC: Why has India's Calcutta city banned cycling?

Guest

Rahul Tandon, correspondent for the BBC. He tweets @rishavtandon.

This segment aired on October 3, 2013.