Background

Indian cities are facing growing challenges such as traffic congestion, air pollution, road safety risks, climate change impacts, and declining quality of public spaces. While policies increasingly recognise the importance of walking, cycling, and public transportation, many citizens—including college and university students, government officials, and elected local representatives such as municipal ward councillors—remain disconnected from how urban mobility systems function and how everyday travel choices affect public health and the environment.

Yet these groups play a critical role in shaping sustainable and inclusive cities. A major gap continues to exist between theoretical knowledge and lived experience, especially when it comes to understanding public transport systems, active mobility, climate impacts, and the role of citizens in driving positive change.

“Let’s Get Involved” is an experiential, discussion- and solution-driven capacity development workshop designed to bridge this gap. The programme combines real-world exposure, interactive learning, and group-based problem solving to help participants better understand urban mobility challenges and explore practical, context-specific solutions.

By directly engaging participants with issues related to public transport, walking, cycling, climate action, and citizen engagement, the programme aims to build awareness, critical thinking, and a sense of shared responsibility for creating sustainable and climate-resilient urban futures.

How it started?

In 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic induced lockdown, we initiated and organised a few sessions of Pedal Talks (online discussion). We spoke with various experts and cycling enthusiasts on various aspects of cycling and sustainable transportation.

In 2021, following the above work, we started a series of in-person interactive group sessions called Mobility Talks. The sessions engaged people of different age groups and economic backgrounds about their travel behavior, the issues they face in their daily commute and their views on sustainable modes of transportation in Guwahati. The engagement acts as a focal point to learn and communicate the urban transportation issues plaguing the city, build narrative towards the best urban transportation practices in place, discover credible solutions appropriate for the city specific and focus on behaviours and attitudes of individuals with respect to sustainable urban mobility. 

In 2022, the scope of the program was expanded and transitioned into a workshop-based model. It was re-branded as Let's Get Involved. On 31st October 2022 the first session was organised. Going ahead these sessions will be held as part of the Enhancing Sustainable Mobility and Building Climate Resilience in North-East India program