Walking and cycling are low-carbon modes of transport that enhance urban quality and facilitate social cohesion; they are cheap, flexible, personal modes without which the majority of people in low- and middle-income countries are unable to participate in the economy and community, or access education, health-care and other urban services.
There is an urgent need to improve the walking and cycling environment and significantly reduce the risks of injury or death, and facilitate a shift to lower carbon modes. Even where governments are resource-constrained, a solid commitment to NMT can change the experiences of millions of pedestrians and cyclists every day.
This report has been developed to document the inclusion of NMT in national or city policies in a sample of low- and middle-income countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, which was achieved through a survey, and detailed policy content analysis. The report makes a number of recommendations based on research, which will increase the impact of this emerging and valuable commitment to non-motorized transport modes in low- and middle-income countries.
