Invest in Walking and Biking Networks to Combat Extreme Heat – ITDP
Between March and June of this year, extreme heat took its toll across India. Temperatures climbed to 50 °C (122 °F) in Eastern India during the region’s longest-ever recorded heat wave. In the city of New Delhi, almost 200 unhoused people died from heat-related illness in one week in June according to Reuters. Outdoor workers in the city suffered too: “My body can’t take it, but I have to keep cycling,” said one bicycle rickshaw driver in a 2024 CNN report. As witnessed in New Delhi, moving around outdoors becomes increasingly unsafe as today’s cities heat up from climate change. But that does not have to be the case for the cities of tomorrow. It is both possible and crucial to invest in heat-safe walking and cycling infrastructure to save lives. What’s more, broader walking and cycling investments can help mitigate the deadly cycle of climate change and heat waves.
Cities around the world are now hotter than ever. In addition to global warming, urban areas tend to be warmer than nearby suburban and rural ones because they have less green space and more heat-absorbing buildings and roads. Extreme urban temperatures can be especially dangerous for people walking and cycling, including those who use wheelchairs or other mobility aids. Heat stress combined with physical exertion can lead to dehydration, heatstroke, and cardiovascular strain.
