I have started cycling, infact after i bought my car! i would love to cycle for all places including the work place, the following is the sort of support we need, to take this forward in a big way. 1. We need exclusive roads for cyclists and walkers. 2. Which should be shady enough 3. The office should have a place to change cloths and fresh oneself up 4. Special Tax rebates for not consuming that much more fuel 5. Enough glucose and lemon supplements in the office 6. A small additional source of power in the cycle, for those few times that we will not be physically ready in the evenings. These steps will go a long way in making a lot of people come to work in cycles.
Cycling is a good idea but given the condition of our roads and the road sense of our vehicle drivers, it is highly impracticable. Everyday when I drive down Delhi roads to work, I find cyclists the most unruly lot. Squeezing themselves through chaotic traffic, they park themselves just in front of your vehicle at a stop sign to block your movement at the change of signal. Bicycles parked haphazardly near other vehicles keep toppling and damaging the vehicles. They are mere nuisance and necessary evil. Moreover, have-nots aspire to become rich and acquire the comforts of life. Didn't we ourselves dream of having cars one day when we used to pedal our way to school and college? Extreme weather in India is also a dampner. You can cycle down once in a while for health reasons but going to work on a bicycle everyday is a nightmare. People should explore the options of non-polluting electric vehicles as an alternative.
Move ahead..but people seem to move behind..its nice to ride a cycle when the climate is good and when u do not cause traffic jams for motorists..but is this practical..we have horrible temperatures..even worse roads..and even worst traffic sense and most horrible pollution....so practically we cannot drive without hurting others and our own selves...infact we will cause traffic jams,accidents for hundreds of fellow road users and cause havoc and nuisance ...millions of barrels of oil,petrol is wasted on our roads ..due to bad roads,irregular planning,poth holes,lack of basic infra-structure,poor engineering and planning skills of our engineers and poor work force..and horrible ethics..so cycles will cause more havoc than good..
RE:those were the days.................
by Michael Dsa on Jul 05, 2008 02:41 PM Permalink
IT IS GOOD IDEA FOR ANYBODY STAYING APPROX 5-6 KMs FROM THEIR WORK PLACE. ANYTHING OVER AND ABOVE WILL BE TOO MUCH IF ONE WANTS TO CYCLE EVERYDAY TO OFFICE. ONE NEEDS TO BE MORE REALISTIC, JUST TO SIT AND IMAGINE THAT IT WOULD BE GREAT TO CYCLE IS NOT ENOUGH. INDIAN CONDITIONS ARE NOT IDEAL TO CYCLE LONG DISTANCE TO OFFICE, SPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE A DIGNIFIED POSITION WHERE APPEARIANCE COUNTS. BUT REMEMBER IF YOUR OFFICE IS 5-6KMs (MAX) THEN IT WOULD BE A FASNTASTIC IDEA TO CYCLE YOUR WAY TO OFFICE. ONE MUST GO FOR MOUNTAIN TREK CYCLES TO CONSERV ENERGY. ALSO IT WILL KEEP YOU ENORMOUSLY FIT !!! BUT FORGET ABOUT IT IF THE DISTANCE IS LONG.
I agree to this article. Since past 7 years, I am cycling my way to office. And it is great experience. Let it be traffice jam, heavy rains and water blockages, me and my cycle never stops. It is a free exercise for me which helps me to keep myself fit. It also saves lots of costly fuel. If you don't want to cycle and still want to save the fuel, electric bike is one of the good options. I hope people will understand and switch to cycle / electric bike instead of cars and motorcycles.
RE:I Agree
by varghese on Jul 05, 2008 01:59 PM Permalink
ur cycle ride..has caused thousands of motorists traffic jams in 7 yrs hence u have wasted the fellow motorists fuel..so the land got polluted for ur great cycle rides..think about this...
Infact it's a good idea.Cycling to office or anywhere within city limits infact reduces pollution,reduces noice level, would increase cleaner air,reduce health problems,reduce dust allergies etc.Govt should infact encourage this novel idea and allow incentive for every one who rides bicycles.
While it is not a novel idea, but today's mad rush and traffic congestion, it will be better to have separate line for bikers and encroachers should be penalised heavily so that the cyclists can reach safely their destination. After having their experience some more people can follow the same.To push people towards reducing fuel consumption, petrol prices have to be increased and seize & destory vehicles which 15 years old(even though their carbon emissions are less when compared with new vehicles).
RE:Cycling to work place
by BIJU KRISHNAN on Jul 05, 2008 01:22 PM Permalink
This is just like netherlands....almost evryone cycles to office....!
Instead of building the elevated highway govt could have spent less money in building dedicated cycle lane....! Paint hi toh karna hain road ko. This is possible only in bangalore and mysore since the weather is suitable.
Emloyees in !0 to 6 office schedule with a fixed destination can do it.But it may be difficult for self employed and those in Services profession to do so regularly.Regarding the price I think they are available in a wide price spectrum Rs.2500 onwards.In my city i find lot of health concious persons drive to joggin park. If only such enthusiasist cycle down to the park, probably they need not jog and save valuable time. AKC
Railway should allow cycle to be carried in local trains. they should mark those compatment by painting it green, so commuter at both the destination is comfortable.
The principle aim of the policy to use cycle is to save fuel. But do we have the culture to think on the right track. It is always told to use bicycles. But no lane is kept for it. On the contrary at peak hours many roads by surprise are momentarily declared as no cycle zones and hours. The use of cycles is discouraged. The use of cycles is beneficiary in many ways. It saves the waiting time of buses, taxis. It can take any convenient routes. It is also good for health. Its use is pollution free. It is least expensive. In schools students are exposed to sports which are not always of practical use in future life. They must be taught bicycles and should be encouraged to its use for school and classes, etc.
RE:Cycle to work to re-stabilise the cycle
by Pranav on Jul 04, 2008 12:54 PM Permalink
Those are just excuses. I have been riding to work everyday since almost a year now. In fact, the bicycle is my primary means of transport. Not only do I get a healthy dose of exercise, I also save a bundle of money along the way. Riding a bicycle is no more dangerous than riding a motorcycle.
RE:Cycle to work to re-stabilise the cycle
by kapil on Jul 04, 2008 12:56 PM Permalink
man...those who use cycles daily get affected their balls...just google and check..impotancy is the result...
RE:Cycle to work to re-stabilise the cycle
by MS on Jul 04, 2008 01:29 PM Permalink
kapil nonsense bullc*ap.next what? those who use cellphones get their brains fried? those who use PCs have retarted brain cells?. i'll bet your balls will be affected more by breating the lead and other poison in the air caused by polluting vehicles running on petrol.
its like fat guys saying that they will not start exercising because,the minute they give up exercising they will regain the fat. hullo? you are stoopid and fat already in the first place!! gimme a break. instead of running down people who cycle,just stand up and admire them and admit that you dont have the balls to emulate them
RE:Cycle to work to re-stabilise the cycle
by Perfect stranger on Jul 04, 2008 04:48 PM Permalink
haha... So if you have balls then do cycling and lose it? Kapil just stated a fact. If you think cycling will not harm your balls then go ahead and cycle..
