World Bicycle Day 2022: How the pandemic year made more Mumbaikars mount a cycle

Pranav Naik on one of his cycle rides in the city. Photo: Pranav Naik

Architect Pranav Naik has been among the torchbearers in Mumbai for cycling both as a recreation and as a means to commute. Encouragingly, over the last one year, he has observed a steady increase in the number of cyclists in the city. The rides are getting longer too, he says. "Initially, we started counting the number of cyclists seen as a part of the cycling groups and noticed that in South Bombay, from 8 cyclists per hour earlier, it increased to as many as 40 cyclists," he explains. "Towards Carter Road in Bandra, the number rose from 20 to 100 and even 200 at one point and that is when we decided to stop counting as it was becoming difficult to keep track."

Among the many things the pandemic has changed is the way we travel, especially in Mumbai. Cycling for pleasure and to run errands has been on the rise. Cycling groups, which were earlier limited to the suburbs, have emerged in South Bombay too, says Naik, and before the recent lockdown, they did group rides three-four times every week.

Santacruz-based Andrew Jacquet is one of the many Mumbaikars who took up cycling in the last one year and while it was for fun earlier, the motive has now changed. "I started cycling actively in August last year, and there were quite a few people with me but even though they backed out eventually, I decided to continue and cycle around for fun. But because of the pandemic I started using the cycle to even run errands at the shops close by. I didn't want my parents to go out for groceries."

Andrew Jacquet who uses the bicycle to run errands in Santacruz. Photo: Andrew Jacquet

Unfortunately, 27-year-old Jacquet fractured his hand in a cycling accident and even though his parents aren't keen on him using the bicycle again, he intends to continue. Jacquet voices his concerns says, "The roads in Mumbai are not the best for cycling so it is not encouraging. I limit myself to cycling for errands but hope I can do longer rides soon as things become better."

Another such emerging cycling enthusiast is Abhishek Takle from Chembur. The 33-year-old took up the activity only after he moved to Goa, with its cycle-friendly roads, in December 2020. "I started running in 2016 but never considered cycling for fitness purposes. But I decided to give it a try after I moved to Benaulim and have been doing it ever since successfully. So, some days when I feel a little lazy to exercise, I just take out the cycle and go for a ride, as the roads are inviting here, unlike Mumbai." He has been going for rides as long as 20-km and intends to go further as his interest in the activity grows.

Abhishek Takle stops during one of his rides in Benaulim in Goa. Photo: Abhishek Takle

No city for cyclists
Concerns about the roads in Mumbai, which make cycling difficult, had been taken up with the authorities last year. Naik was one among a team of cyclists and architects in the city along with to submit a mobility plan to the state government and the municipal corporation. Their dossier contained a detailed plan of solutions for the short, medium, and long terms. He reveals that the officials, including the new municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, weren't too interested. "We contacted them several times… but we did not receive a reply," adds Naik.

The lukewarm response didn't deter the team from continuing with its ‘Cycle Chala City Bacha' programme. The ongoing initiative aims to make cycling the favoured mode of transport across all 24 wards in the city and to make Mumbai the cycling capital of India by 2030. With bicycle councillors in several wards in the city and a bicycle mayor, Firoza Suresh, the team intends to make cycling a mode of transport to work, says Naik, who rides his bicycle to work himself.

Apart from unsafe roads and the absence of accessible cycle tracks, there are more concerns. Naik adds, "We found out that there will be cycling tracks on the Coastal Road, which we are all against. Moreover, the tracks aren't connected because they are circular and as an adult cyclist, it does not make sense. So, we have told them that they can be circular but the circular tracks need to be connected."

These various issues are the reason why cycling hasn't been fun for 36-year-old Naik, who has been riding seriously for the last seven years. Although he rides on multiple routes, because of construction work for the Coastal Road Project and the metro, he isn't able to enjoy the spectacular sea view anymore.

Also Read: Beginner's guide to cycling in Mumbai

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