Pedal that Mayor' idea!

Traffic jams, blaring horns and road snarls are a part of every Bengalurean’s daily routine. Wouldn’t it just be much simpler to use the bicycle as a mode of transport? Bengaluru is embracing environmental consciousness as the humble bicycle takes over other modes of transportation in a bid to reduce pollution and promote sustainable modes of commuting. In a first of its kind initiative in the city, a global network of cyclists will be appointing a ‘Bicycle Mayor’ for Bengaluru by the end of this month. This initiative is being coordinated by Evangelical Social Action Forum (ESAF), an NGO, in association with ByCS, a Dutch organisation based in Amsterdam. Cyclists are thrilled but a tad weary about the hassles they have to deal with frequently.

“Bangalore has lot of cycling initiatives and we wanted to capitalise on that. Quite a few people have taken to cycling with the Cycling Day gaining prominence. The Bicycle Mayor will be the face of the cycling community in Bangalore and will promote this cause,” says Manju George, senior programme manager at ESAF, Bengaluru. The Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT), a governmental organisation is in close association with this project. Murali Krishna, a special officer at DULT feels that many lanes that are suitable for cycling are not exploited. “The demand for switching to cycling is steadily rising and people have realised there are many benefits of cycling,” he opines.

Feasible Option!
Mayank Rungta, a cyclist says that several people vouch for the fact that cycling is a better and faster option for commuting. “The Bicycle Mayor’s influence over policies is a key component and I hope the individual will be able to actively campaign for the cause of cycling,” he comments. 

Peddling their way to a better future!

CB Ramkumar, a sustainable tourism and travel expert and board member of the GSTC Global Sustainable Tourism Council, is a cycling enthusiast who has travelled from Jammu to Kanyakumari in this humble means of transport. He believes that one of the biggest challenges that cyclists face in urban space is with regards to how inconsiderately they are treated by people in larger vehicles. “This is a deep-rooted systemic issue. There will be more people who will take to cycling with the introduction of a Bicycle Mayor, but it will remain a niche. For a large scale change to happen, the mindset of the motorists needs to be changed, and that is the biggest challenge the Bicycle Mayor has to tackle,” he further added.  

Cyclist essentials! 

Here are the top five essentials a cyclist requires in a city like Bengaluru, which is slowly but surely opening its heart to the cause... 
1) More puncture shops across the city will help a great deal!
2) Cyclist specific infrastructure like separate paths for cyclists on main roads.
3) Policies like car-free days, odd-even days and parking free roads.
4) More trees, because ACs aren’t a luxury cyclists swear by!
5) Stop the smog! Burning waste within the city premises isn’t always the best way to get rid of it.
6) More cycling parking zones.
7) Better roads and no potholes, as they are the bane of a cyclists life!  

— Srishti Muralidharan