With motorists largely stayed off the roads during last year’s lockdown and May 2021, the streets of Mumbai saw several residents pull out their bikes to ride on the city’s less congested roads. The reasons were many: It is a good form of exercise, non-polluting and environmentally friendly, provides a cost-effective mode of travel and allows for social distancing, which will be essential to staying safe as people start to walk. get out of their homes and start commuting to work. Many bikes now have better safety features – strong aluminum bodies and gears – so people can ride harder. It’s a great way to exercise without using common areas like gyms. Pradeep K. Aggarwal, Head of Bicycle Committee, EEPC India, said that with “better quality” cycles with improved safety features and more robust frames in demand, the government needs to implement some measures to attract more cyclists in the streets.

Pradeep K. Aggarwal, Head of Bicycle Committee, EEPC India

We need strong laws that make the roads safer for cyclists. Speed ​​restrictions on city roads, especially at roundabouts, must be implemented by the government. The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a “Streets for Life” campaign to urge governments to reduce speed to 30 km / h in cities. We also need strict penalties for motorists who endanger the lives of cyclists by driving recklessly. This will be a deterrent for people who do not respect speed limits and road safety rules. Once these rules are in place, more people will have confidence in their bikes.

Electric bikes are also becoming popular with people as they are a great way to cover short distances. During Indian summers, cycling can be very exhausting during the day, so e-bikes take the stress out of cycling. It also requires less force to make it easy for you to get to work or different places.

Meanwhile, gas pumps also need to set up bicycle repair centers or kiosks. This can be done at low cost, since the repair instruments can be set up with a budget of Rs 5,000. Repairers, who are usually seated by the side of the road, can be allocated a place at the gas pumps. So, if people are traveling long distances and their cycles fail, they can easily find a gas pump repair shop. This convenience will encourage more people to use bicycles.

Archaeological sites, zoos, botanical gardens, forts and any other large area of ​​tourist interest should offer bicycles for hire. This will make it easier for people to explore the place and popularize cycling.

Last year, Smart Cities Mission launched the India Cycles4Change Challenge, a government initiative to encourage cities to implement pro-cycling initiatives, such as dedicated cycle lanes. Many cities in Europe created lanes for cyclists during last year’s lockdown and kept them. India needs to implement something similar.

Bike rental services in cities can really help popularize the concept of a bike and, in the long run, inspire many more to use the service. Local authorities should encourage these services.

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