CYCLING

It has been quite a few days since I spent a day without reading the now famous word ‘Global warming’. From a child, who has just started his schooling to almost everyone who keeps track of the proceedings of the world, has an understanding about this topic in their own way. However, it is hard to find anybody taking any genuine step along this course. Let me come back to this topic later.

I have got a driving license and I am eligible to ride a motor cycle but I ‘still’ ride my bicycle. In the previous sentence I have given emphasis on ‘still’ because, many people think that adults, riding a cycle is sin! Though I enjoy riding my ranger swing, it is the so called well wishers, friends and foes, who think it is embarrassing to ride a cycle at this age! And mind you, I am still a student... I am fed up with people staring at me; silently telling me it is no longer your right to ride a cycle after you finish your schooling. I don’t have any issues, then why the hell should I care? Let me illustrate it:

(At my friend’s place, take her as Ms. X)

Me-hi! How are you?

 X-oh! So nice to see you. So how did you come? Papa’s car?

Me-nope, I came in cycle.

X-oh my god! You still ride it??? (The expression was something like- Oh, you miser)

Its my bicycle, the road is public, my cycle is not creating any sorts of pollution and I get my exercise also( she is obese!). Then why the hell are people trying to stop me from riding my bicycle?

            

Now coming to the part as to why Indians are rarely able to strike a balance between non-polluting and polluting vehicles. First of all, the image of ‘cycle’ is not yet revolutionised. Only this picture comes into people’s mind when they think of a cycle.

      

But actually, today’s cycles are like this also...

They can prove to be expensive too, because a cycle by name “trek madone” was bought by a Mangalore guy G Vishwanath Kamath. He was a professional cyclist and now he has a cycle worth 2.3lakh rupees! The purpose of writing this fact is to make clear that bicycles are not cheap. I have seen people moving in cars to Public Park daily for a walk! They might feel their prestige is at stake, if they don’t travel in costly vehicles. however, they can by all means use these costly bicycles and get some more exercise too!

Secondly, the lack of dedicated cycle tracks. It is hard to find drivers giving any respect to cyclists on roads; even I become lazy to cut down the gas when I spot a cyclist moving like a snail on a busy road. That is the reason, cycle tracks are necessary. Take for example, Holland. There the government pays more attention to the cycle tracks than other roads! There are even traffic signals in these tracks! All trains have special compartments to carry bicycles; so that people who are working faraway can travel easily.

Okay, let us face reality. As a matter of fact, cycles need not be used everywhere, but please say no to cars when you are going alone to fetch milk from the dairy in the next street. Use the cycle to visit your friend. You might have observed Viru Sahasrabudhi in 3idiots riding the bicycle; if your workplace is nearby I don’t see any problem in riding the bicycle (unless prestige comes in the way). As I have mentioned earlier, if we all switch on to bicycles, then we can do our bit in reducing global warming.
Here is a list of benefits

This particular idea about cycling might seem a bit impractical today. But the cycling spirit in me says there is hope, recently two of my friends bought very good bicycles (and they ride on them to the college) and my cousin often uses a bicycle to his office in Bangalore. So I feel there is hope for the cyclists! What do you say???