Kathmandu, April 25 -- At 4am in Patan, the streets are quiet enough to ride. A small group of women cycles through dimly lit roads, riding in a loose line, slowing at turns and calling out to one another as they move. By 6 in the morning, they are already heading home to take their children to school or complete household chores.

Just 30 years ago, cycling was widely popular, a regular activity and mode of everyday transport. Now, with the rise of motorbikes and the expansion of roads, cycling has largely disappeared from daily life.

Organisations like the Cycle City Network Nepal (CCNN) and groups such as Women Cycling Nepal are trying to revive this practice. Through weekend rides, school programmes and cycling challenges, they are w...