Photos: Uphill battle but Tehran aims to become bike-friendly

One sunny day, Tehran's mayor and foreign diplomats rode bicycles through the Iranian capital to promote cycling - no mean feat in a city of steep roads, heavy traffic and toxic fumes.

The metropolis of over eight million at the foot of the Alborz mountains is choked with vehicles running on subsidised fuel and has limited infrastructure for alternative modes of transport. | Above: Iranians ride their bicycles around the artificial Chitgar lake in Tehran.

But its mayor Pirouz Hanachi believes trying to make a dent in the city's traffic and pollution problem by promoting a bike-sharing initiative is worth the effort.

Hanachi (pictured) has tried to promote cycling by launching "Tuesdays without cars" when he and other team members use pedal power to get to and from the office.

"We are not saying this is the solution, but it's a short-term, accessible, cheap and productive" one to help "ease traffic and pollution a bit," he said. "It won't be like Amsterdam, but it can be a new experience."

Downtown Tehran is notorious for its traffic jams and regularly covered in vehicle exhaust smog worsened by pollution from factories around the city limits.

That is why the municipality is supporting a bike-sharing start-up called Bdood ("fumeless" in Farsi), the mayor said.

The company's signature orange bikes can now be seen in 147 stations across Tehran, according to the company's website.

For the mayor, Tehran residents would ideally commute to work by cycling to the nearest metro station then riding the train.

The municipality is "increasing cycling paths and trying to make bicycles more accessible," he added.

Yet cyclists say a lack of dedicated infrastructure makes it difficult for the city to be bike-friendly.

"Not at all," laughed Farshad Rezayi (pictured) when asked if Tehran was accommodating to cyclists. "Like, no way!" The 32-year-old chef, who said he is "addicted" to cycling, said he rides over 30 kilometres a day to get to and from work.

He crosses highways and streets with few dedicated bike lanes. Where they do exist, he said, they have mostly been taken over by motorbikes.

It is commonplace in Tehran to see motorcycles speeding down sidewalks or taking up empty space not occupied by cars.

"A lot more infrastructure is needed for regular cycling to be a thing," Rezayi said, adding that motorists and pedestrians mostly regard cyclists as "intruders".