In Covid times, cycling a rage among youths
Many have shunned public transport fearing health risks
Hyderabad is catching up with the spirit of cycling. More and more people are taking a fancy to riding bicycles through city streets and lanes. The humble steel horse had its hey days but gave way to fast-moving motor vehicles in recent decades.
Realisation is dawning that this is not only the cheapest mode of individual transport but also environment-friendly. Bicycles also help one keep fit.
The new generation is not only taking to bicycles as a new fitness tool but also by way of a fun-filled outing. Ever since the Covid-19 scenario emerged, many developed a tendency to shun public transport for fear of health risks. This too helped in effecting a turnaround. Youths took to bicycles as an alternative, safe mode of travel from home to offices and other places of work as also to markets and back.
Reports say the sale of bicycles has accelerated globally since early last year. Also, to popularise cycling, clubs are promoting this as a fun sport in various mediums. Clubs are renting out state-ofthe-art, gear-fixed cycles at minimum charge. Cities like Bengaluru had started this long ago.
The state government partnered with clubs in exploring all its possibilities so that Hyderabad can one day stand up with cities like Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Paris and London, all popular for their use of bicycles.
The state government is keen on promoting nonmotorized transportation. Till now, the capital city has 23 km of bicycling lanes. Soon, this length would be stretched to 100 km of bicycling lanes.
Geeta Rudran got her bicycle a few days back. She wanted to give some rest to her scooter, more because she needed to do some physical exercise. “By the time I reach back from office, I am so tired to go for the fitness regimen. Now, I go to the market on my cycle; and riding a cycle is also a great stressbuster.”
Jeetender Jain, a fitness freak, along with his group of friends, took up cycling as a fitness device since the time of Covid-19 lockdown.
“All the gyms were closed. So, we have taken up cycling. Now, we are continuing with it and this turns out to be a good fitness mode for all our group members,” he said.
The Hyderabad Bicycling Club is more than a decade old. It has been promoting use of cycle via the social media and conducts a couple of events every year. The club’s last cycling event was held before the lockdown and saw an attendance of 3,000 participants. As of now, the club has two cycling stations; one at Necklace Road and another at Gachibowli, with 600 bicycles, given out on rent on an hourly basis, explained its chairman D.V. Manohar, who is also the vice president of the World Cycling Alliance, Brussels.
Manohar is all praises for minister KT Rama Rao. “When we approached him to have more cycling lanes and other help to promote cycling, he welcomed the plan. Now, the city has 23km of track at Necklace Road, around KBR Park, the Jubilee Hills Road 23 and Jubilee Hills Road 26. Soon, there will be 100km of cycling lanes in the city.” Manohar said the Hyderabad urban metropolitan transportation authorities are taking a keen interest in promoting non-motorized transport.