Here’s how Covid-19 pandemic brought cycles back on the roads  

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Cycling in India over the past few years was witnessing a slow, yet steady rise in the urban areas. As people got busier with their lives and work, and settled further into their respective desks and cubicles, there was an urgent requirement for a physical activity to beat the sedentary lifestyle. That is when people took to cycling, both for short commutes as well as long and extensive recreational rides.

The Covid-19 pandemic on the other hand totally flipped the tables and changed the game for cyclists and cycle sellers. The lockdown restrictions prohibited gatherings, sporting activities, gyms and also forced people to recede further into their homes. With the emergence of ‘work-from-home’, office cubicles were reduced to dining tables, commutes became non-existent and there were not enough chances and reasons to leave homes. This is when a big chunk of urban populace in India decided to hit the saddle and paddle away.

Covid-19 impact

The pandemic brought an unprecedented boom for the cycle manufacturing industry. Onkar Singh, the Chairman of Cycling Federation of India, says that the country witnessed a surge in market since the pandemic started and that has totally changed the whole scene of Indian bicycle industry.  This was partly because the gyms and parks were closed and partly because of social distancing requirements.  According to him, for many months, India witnessed a surge of about 300 to 400 percent sale of high-end cycles, Financial Express reported.

Cost 

An average bicycle costs between Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,000, while high-end ones can cost between Rs 30,000-Rs 50,000 and beyond. Apart from these, cycles are also available on rent. Companies like Yulu, PedL, FreMo are offering bicycles on rent across different metro cities.

As more and more people are hitting the streets on cycles, the issues regarding safety also become a matter of serious concern. India still doesn’t have designated lanes for cyclists, and only a few cities have created such lanes in selected parts.  Bengaluru leads in this case after it launched its first pop-up bicycle lane in 2020. It is a 17 km lane spanning across the Outer Ring Road, made especially for cyclists.

Kolkata on the other hand, is still looking into it and taking matters related to the surge in the number of cyclists seriously. The discussions of having a dedicated lane are still going on with the authorities. The same goes for Mumbai as well. Despite a number of initiatives being rolled out in the city, it still lacks dedicated cycling infrastructure.

Even the national capital was supposed to have an elevated bicycle track of 6 kms starting from near Press Enclave Road to Barapullah elevated road. It was announced in 2017 and is yet to be completed.

Bicyclists need their space and the safety measures in place, and the government should look into this with seriousness.