A few months ago, as complaints about traffic congestion, bad road conditions, and pollution hazards reached a crescendo, the regular nine-to-fiver received a double whammy with the news of an increase in fuel prices. So, what was the already overburdened, over taxed, underpaid, harassed commuter suffering from respiratory symptoms to do?
While the increase in fuel prices caused a blip on the radars of regular office goers, some of them switched to using the nightmarish torture machines which go by the name “public transport,” while some took to the alien concept of carpooling with limited success. A few brave, however, turned to commuting by a fantastic nonpolluting, wallet-friendly, fitness machine—the bicycle. Why brave? Well, for one, in the hierarchy of road users in India, the cycle stands way below the cows that decide to cross roads at inopportune moments. Second, most of us lack road sense and are always trying to outsmart, outmaneuver, and overtake each other. So, where does that leave the poor cyclist? In addition, as compared with its European counterparts, Indian roads do not have designated cycling lanes and cyclists are forced to stick as close to the footpath (if there is one) as possible to avoid getting run over. Besides, there is a very fundamental psychological reason that deters most of us from hopping on to a cycle and pedaling to work. We are a status conscious society. And the opinions of the people next door often cause us to rethink radical ideas and opt for a more “acceptable” approach.
The cycle is regarded by many of us Indians as laborer class, a poor man’s mode of transport. Or is it? The next time you’re near a bicycle store, pop in and ask for the price of a geared bicycle. While it won’t burn a hole in your pocket, some of these mean machines cost anywhere between INR 3,000 and 40,000. You heard it right! This humble invention of mankind has made a resu’rgence. What started out as a single speed ungainly contraption with 2 wheels and a bucket-like seat in the 1800s has undergone a metamorphosis. Over the years, this vehicle of transport has been redesigned and engineered to its new avatars—the 21-geared carbon/aluminum framed aerodynamic models with mind boggling features. These hot bikes give “coolness” a new dimension.
Best of all, you don’t need an age limit to operate this cool loco. Say goodbye to bad roads, parking tickets, no parking zones, car loans, car maintenance, and corrupt cops. And, you sure don’t have to dig too deep to buy the Ferrari of bikes. The other important aspect to putting your foot to the pedal, is the exercise you get without having to buy expensive gym memberships, which face it, you may never really use to full potential. It won’t kill your knees like high impact aerobics or long distance running or boring treadmill workouts and is as great an exercise form as swimming (but how many of us can swim to work?). According to the British Heart Foundation, cycling 20 miles a week cuts your risk of heart disease by half that of a couch potato and makes you as toned as the 20-something with six packs in your gym. Jaw dropping isn’t it?
Need more reasons? Let’s talk money.
An average office-goer spends INR 5,000 to 6,000 per month for a daily drive to and from work covering a distance of approximately 50 km per day. On switching to cycling, your fuel expense on that dreaded daily commute drops down to zero. You are driven by your own energy. Cycling gives you freedom and a chance to see the world through a different perspective.
Although the benefits of taking up cycling are plenty, it is only gradually permeating our Indian cities. India still lags behind countries such as US and those in Europe, where companies offer incentives and support cycling to work. However, the good news is that our metros have seen initiatives at individual levels, with even our very own Bollywood heroes promoting cycling. The municipal commissioner of Pune, a dynamic civil servant who rides to work daily, has declared Tuesdays as cycle days to promote the use of cycles in this city. The government of Tamil Nadu has also taken up an initiative to provide free cycles to school going kids of the first and second grade to encourage them to use this mode of transport. Car free Sunday, an initiative by a local entrepreneur in Bangalore for encouraging cycling to work met with a very favorable response from the young and old alike. Ask any of the software engineers in Bangalore who ride to work about what motivates them. For most, cycling is a way to keep fit; for others, it is as simple a pleasure as the joy of cycling.
So, how do you begin? If you don’t already own a bicycle, find a dealer and buy one. You don’t have to look too far to find a standard bicycle, by which I mean a single speed bike with V brakes. For enthusiasts wanting to make heads turn, there are brands like Trek, Firefox, and Merida in the Indian market. Second, and the important part, begin riding. Make trips to your local grocers, your hair salon, or just ride around in your neighborhood. When you get comfortable with the traffic, venture out and head to work. Don’t get deterred by traffic. Be safe, wear a helmet. While a helmet doesn’t afford a great deal of protection, it gives other drivers and road users the impression that you mean business and they will actually share the road. Cycling to work during the monsoons may be a little tricky, but having mudguards and a rainproof jacket should suffice. For those still frowning at the idea of cycling to work but wanting to just head out, you could probably look up forums or groups who venture out on guided cycling tours that cover varied terrain.
So, the next time your uber savvy cyclist colleague with laptop and semi formal attire zips through traffic on his or her sleek machine, leaving you listening to meditation music in your car that has been stuck in traffic, don’t be envious. Hop on to a bicycle and give those wheels a spin. Don’t wait for the invention of a more technologically superior energy efficient fuel source to power our cars. While the world is debating about global warming, climate change, and snowballing prices, switch to a clean, more commercially viable mode of transport that has survived the test of time. And who knows, all the enthusiasm for beating the rush hour traffic on a racer might throw up an Olympian hopeful amongst our midst.
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