Narrow roads and the growing numbers of vehicle day by day have caused a rise in pollution and traffic congestion in the Guwahati city. What comes as a welcome solution to these problems is a thriving cycling culture that has been developing among city residents.
Bicycles have made a comeback post-COVID-19 lockdowns in the city with many people opting for cycling to commute across the city. Meanwhile, bicycle shops have reported a rapid increase in sales.
Arshel Akhter, who is known as the ‘Bicycle Mayor of Guwahati’, said, “There is a growth in the cycling culture across the city, post Covid-19 lockdowns. People have opted for this means of transport for various health benefits.”
Cycling not only helps tackle the pollution level but also has numerous health benefits, helping the cyclist to lead a healthy and positive lifestyle.
Cycling has always been seen as a convenient means of transportation but with rapid urbanization, the number of personal vehicles has steadily gone and bicycle became a rare sight on the city street.
However, in the recent year and post Covid-19 lockdown, a section of citizens are using the bicycle as a recreational means of transport within the city limits for various health benefits and are also encouraging others for the same.
One positive from the disastrous Covid-19 pandemic is the revival of nature to some extent. And this presents a perfect opportunity to promote cycling as a primary means of transport. Cycling gives people an equitable, clean, and inexpensive option to travel by maintaining social distance.
Gagan Kakati, an employee with a private firm, said, “I cycle to my office every day. When I opted for cycling, there was hardly any cyclist on the road. People used to stare me in surprise those days. But of late, concerned people are using cycle for recreational purpose, post the lockdown situation.”
Talking about other benefits of cycles, he said, “Cycling cuts down the cost of fuel and thus helps us save money. People should consider this as well.”
Cycling minimizes cardiovascular diseases, asthma and joint-related problems. This is also known as a low-impact means of transport, however, in Guwahati, cycling—a non-motorized transport—still finds away with no infrastructure being chalked out.
Samrat, an avid cyclist, said, “It is true that there is a growth in the number of cyclists in the city but due to non-availability of dedicated cycle lanes, most people avoid taking out their cycles. If there is no massive demand by the people in the form of discussions with the government, then they will never pay heed towards us.”
Many cyclists, who brought bicycle during the lockdowns, admitted that they are often too scared to cycle in the early morning and during the evening in city roads. Pratiksha, who recently brought a bicycle for her fitness, expressed, “There is a surge in cyclists across Guwahati after the lockdown. Like me, everyone has brought cycle for recreation but with the increase in traffic and errant drivers, I feel unsafe sometimes.”
Talking about the need for the initiative to promote a cycle-friendly culture in the city, she said, “The dedicated lanes shouldn’t just be for the recreational cyclists like us but for everyone who takes a cycle to their work, not by choice but by compulsion.”
The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, keeping in view the rise in cycling all over the country, had started the India Cycles4Change Challenge to encourage cities to initiate measures for creating cycling lanes and related infrastructure. Guwahati Smart City Limited had also registered for the challenge but nothing has been done, due to change in bureaucratic leadership.
But cities like Kohima, Aizawl, Agartala in the Northeast and Bengaluru, Faridabad, New Town Kolkata, Nagpur, Jabalpur, Bhopal, and many more, have taken some innovative steps in consultation with their citizens to promote cycling in their cities for this challenge.
Last week, the Assam government approved various infrastructural developments for the Guwahati city and across the state. But, there is no such plan chalked out for the cycling community.
Moreover, in the comprehensive master plan of smart Guwahati city, there is no mention of the provision to ease and promote non-motorized transport such as cycling. While there have been developments for the pedestrian with new footpaths but there is none for the cyclists yet.
“There is a dedicated cycling lane in Dakhingaon-Sawkuchi stretch inside the tech city of Mirza, in the outskirts of Guwahati. But we need the same throughout the city as more people cycle every day. Some for recreational purpose, which is currently in trend and some for their everyday work, by compulsion,” said an avid cyclist.
“Be it for recreation or daily work, cycling is always the best means of transport, which promotes good health and is sustainable. The government and the various departments working on the transportation across Guwahati should include the plan for carving out dedicated cycle lanes,” he added.
The lack of adequately safe cycling infrastructure and the dominance of motorized transport on the roads are major deterrents for people to take up the bicycle as a primary means of transport, for a long-term.
At this point, a small policy push from the Assam government to promote cycling through the creation of dedicated cycle lanes in Guwahati can bring out a major change and encourage people to take up a bicycle for their day-to-day use, instead of their motorized transport.
But few cyclists highlighted on the mentality of people sharing roads with them. “The roads can be conducive only if the motorists treat us with equal eye,” added Pratiksha.
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) 2018 report, Benefit Cycling in India, mentioned that India can save Rs. 27 billion in fuel and Rs. 241 billion if 50 per cent of two-wheelers and four-wheeler trips are substituted by cycling.
The report said, “If bicycle were to substitute the two-and four-wheelers used for short-distance trips, it can result in an annual benefit of Rs. 1.8 trillion.”