Several years ago, Bihar witnessed a strange sight. In full public gaze, the erstwhile and

irrepressible Laloo Prasad Yadav was seen taking to the streets in early every morning on

a bicycle, surrounded by his coterie and bodyguards. While most passed the phenomenon

of as attention-seeking, there were a few who praised it just for the symbolic significance.

And this was a time when climate change and the greenhouse effect was not even heard of.

Today, we wish more people do the same.

In India, the buzz about cycling has always been lack lustre, either reminiscent of childhood

or aligned with a low monetary status; this mode of transport hasn’t gotten its due till now

but with the recent developments taking place under the state ministry of Delhi it looks

as though changes are just around the corner. Recently the chief minister, Sheila Dixit

expressed her distaste with autorickshaw drivers, claiming how they are a menace to the

public. Adding to this, she mentioned how there needs to an alternative presented to the

public in case autorickshaws are wiped out as the people in Delhi need to have a stable

public transport system. At a summit recently held, Sheila Dixit championed the usage of

bicycles and mentioned how autorickshaw cycles operated with batteries could be a very

safe and environmentally inclined option, this also came in as she expressed her confidence

in having people use bicycles as an active mode of transport.

Indeed it is a matter of concern that compared to other transport methods, cycling could be

proven to be most prone to danger as has been evident in the past due to the less interest

paid in making roads cycle-safe, but as a part of the new strategy by the Chief Minister, as

adequate and appropriate cycle stands would be put into place in order to maintain safety

for cyclists, this way people can resume their day to day routine via this transportation. It

is, though, too soon to finalise a concept such as this as the population on roads in terms

of vehicles and bad traffic with the almost absent state of proper infrastructure but it isn’t

too soon to be optimistic about something that is nature friendly by being convenient to

the public. The environment advantages are endless if cycles are made more popular as fuel

capacity is zero and so is the ever increasing danger of pollution, cycles are also a healthier

option than any other mode of transportation as physical effort required can substitute

exercise without having as much strain. Delhi being first to initiate a movement such as this,

especially in the light of Delhi Cycling Club (DCC) submitting a memorandum of demands

to Chief Minister Sheila Dixit last month. The group sought her urgent intervention to

make Delhi roads safer and build suitable infrastructure and facilities for lakhs of people

who commute by bicycle but are always at the risk of pushed or hit by motor vehicles. This

movement has essentially paved way for other states to take notice of the benefits of

cycling, which could mirror the kind of regard it holds in the western countries, where cycle

in an integral form of commute.

Take for instance, a country like China. Now here is a nation where the number of

cyclists exceeds motorists. Indeed, it is a fact that the bicycle is the only way one can get

somewhere on time. Now compare this to India, where the average motorist spends an

hour and a half in traffic, and in the process, inhales a good deal of harmful engine exhaust

fumes. Proponents of the bicycle wax eloquent over the cardio-building and health-

maintaining benefits of the bicycle. It is a little known fact that having an hour’s ride on the

bicycle is worth forty minutes of vigorous exercise in the gym. Health experts stress that

cycling is very beneficial for the legs, abs and upper body physique. It also improves working

of the lungs, heart and functions as a good stress reliever.

And as from the environment point of view, the advantages have to obvious. Consider that

for every cycle being used, a gallon of diesel is being saved, and one can see the point.

Taking the example of a city like Delhi, where we can see hundreds of vehicles waiting for

the green at a traffic light, we can see the picture.