Mumbai’s bicycling communities are vibrant and eclectic. And yet, there are few bicycle-specific amenities. This project studies the meaning, role and experience of bicycling in contemporary Mumbai. I show how people’s mundane mobility practices offer important lessons for planners and activists trying to promote sustainable transportation in cities around the world.

In Mumbai, hundreds of thousands of people sell everything from vegetables to clothing on the street. Despite having a central role in the city’s functioning, these street vendors lack licenses. How do they maintain their rights to the street? And, how does their work make city life better for all?

Social science and humanities graduate programs train students to be skilled researchers and analytic thinkers— qualities that are valued in many professional contexts. And yet around the U.S., PhD programs send two incorrect messages to students: that the only legitimate career goal is a faculty job and that research and critical thinking only take place in academia. This needs to change.