Pedal pushers
A movement is afoot—if you believe this article in India Today. This is serious stuff folks. Govind says he’ll now cycle to work while his Honda stays home.
Of course, getting a good geared bike is paramount for cycling in a country like India. Or else, it doesn’t take long to shoot your Vastus lateralis beyond flagging levels, thereby rubbing your enthusiasm the wrong way.
My visiting parents are awed by the way the Dutch cycle—not just the young, but old, and some very old folks indeed. A couple in their 60s and 70s riding together is truly inspiring. While unsure of their balance, they promised they’d try after all these years.
What’s needed now, and direly, is some infrastructure. If every town hall in every town, and city could take the initiative to construct uninterrupted cycle paths and amend/reinforce some safety laws helping cyclists, then there’s no stopping people from having fun, saving money and get some exercise in the bargain, while helping ease the oil burden on the state.
Buddy, I am doing 1 hr runs before I push off to the office in the wee hours and return to see the sunset :). BTW there are many folks who are already doing it but in general just like the folks on wheelchair, “places/cities/shoppping malls etc” are ill designed for the cyclists of anykind. But most of the folks are pretty vocal - as is evident in deccan chronicle article. Let us see how long this lasts.
Jul 17, 08 at 11:56Just like the folks on wheelchair indeed; and which is why my respect went up a couple of notches for people willingly doing this in India.
Jul 17, 08 at 12:04I should add two things - I still need to do the first ride to office. And the places are ill designed for crowds/cyclists. There are “spaces”/zones.
Jul 17, 08 at 12:08I can’t imagine myself riding a bicycle to office. Although I would love to like I have seen when in Europe, I think the weather here is just not conducive enough to take a cycle ride and yet make it to office without a heavy sweat. Yes, the idea indeed is a good form of exercise for souls like me who spend most of our waking hours in the office only.
Jul 17, 08 at 16:07Sweat—we all do, particularly in summers. But thankfully, we have showers.
Jul 17, 08 at 16:33Showers in the office are great boon. I guess we are just privileged folks to have ac/shower in the office. Offcourse need for AC can be lowered down if buildings are constructed looking at local conditions rather than raising the floors on blocks and putting glass and steel.
Jul 18, 08 at 08:10I am not sure Mumbai folks can attempt bike in humid weather. People without option do use whatever is available though.