Lucknow, our cherished City of Nawabs, is drowning in a haze of air pollution. Day after day, our Air Quality Index (AQI) climbs to dangerous heights—routinely surpassing 150, and often breaching 200 during the choking winter months. This isn’t just a number; it’s a health crisis. Vehicle emissions from gridlocked roads like Hazratganj, Alambagh, Gomti Nagar, and Aminabad, alongside industrial fumes and seasonal smog, are poisoning the air we breathe. Families in Nishatganj hear their children cough through the night. Commuters near Charbagh Station shield their stinging eyes. Elderly residents in Qaiserbagh feel their lungs weaken. This is our reality—a city losing its breath, its heritage, and its future to smog. We can’t afford to wait.

There’s a straightforward, proven solution: bike racks. By installing secure, accessible bike racks at critical locations—Hazratganj’s crowded markets, Gomti Nagar’s sprawling neighborhoods, Charbagh Railway Station’s transit hub, Lucknow University’s vibrant campus, and even smaller zones like Aliganj and KD Singh Stadium—the LMC can spark a cycling revolution. Cycling isn’t just a memory of simpler times; it’s a lifeline. Every kilometer cycled instead of driven cuts 250 grams of CO2 from the atmosphere. If just 500 Lucknowites cycle daily, that’s over 45 tons of carbon emissions slashed yearly. Cleaner air, quieter streets, healthier lives—all from a few sturdy racks bolted to the ground.

This isn’t uncharted territory. Cities like Delhi, Pune, and Bangalore have embraced bike racks and cycling lanes, watching pollution levels dip and traffic ease. Lucknow, a proud member of India’s Smart Cities Mission, should lead the charge, not lag behind. Our iconic landmarks—the elegance of Qaiserbagh, the serenity of the Gomti River—deserve to shine through clear skies, not vanish in a toxic blur. Bike racks are affordable and impactful: 50 racks at ₹10,000 each cost just ₹5 lakh—a tiny slice of the municipal budget for a massive win against pollution.

The Lucknow Municipal Corporation has the resources, the authority, and the responsibility to make this happen. No external help is needed—just decisive action from within. Smt. Sushma Kharakwal, as our Mayor, you can champion this cause. The LMC can identify 50 prime spots, procure the racks, and install them swiftly. Start with a pilot if you must—say, 10 racks in Hazratganj or near Lucknow University—to prove the concept. Then expand citywide. The Uttar Pradesh Transport Department could align this with broader transit goals, but the LMC alone can kickstart it. This isn’t a favor to us; it’s your duty to a city gasping for relief.

Picture the change: students biking to class, vendors pedaling to markets, families riding along the Gomti—all without choking on exhaust. Bike racks unlock that future. They’re not a luxury; they’re a necessity for a city where traffic jams steal our time and pollution steals our health. Lucknow deserves better—a greener, cleaner tomorrow we can all take pride in passing on.

Sign this petition to demand action from Smt. Sushma Kharakwal and the Lucknow Municipal Corporation. Tell them: install bike racks now. Every signature is a cry for breathable air, less congestion, and a city reborn. We’re counting on you—our leaders—to act boldly and swiftly. Don’t let another smoggy winter rob us of more. Make Lucknow a model of clean air and smart living. Act today—our lungs can’t wait!

Ravi Rajvanshi 
President, Wings for Wild