Commendable bid to rekindle interest in cycling
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: May 28, 2022 -

IT seems that even if the initiative by Imphal Smart City Limited (ISCL) to launch smart bicycle hiring service in the capital city wouldn't have many takers in the initial stages, there is nothing wrong in giving it a try in view of notable increase in the number of citizens using geared bicycles.

During the summer months, the private party's move to introduce 100 bicycles bearing smart features is unlikely to be an interesting proposition but the same cannot be said when winter months set in and the climatic conditions get pleasant for pedalling.

In fact, till around the mid-1990s bicycles used to be popular means of travel among the students and office goers.

Those were the days when late comers struggled to find space in the cycle sheds of schools and colleges.

Prior to near total replacement of bicycles after swanky and user-friendly motor vehicles hit the markets some three decades back, bicycles were the choice for the commoners as well as prized items for the thieves.

In the valley pockets, bicycle riding starts from a tender age and many still maintain one mainly to ride on weekdays and holidays to breathe fresh air in the outskirts of the city.

Due to the realisation that sedentary lifestyle is fraught with great health risk there has also been growing instances of valley residents pedalling longer distance to get the much-needed physical activity.

Apart from those cycling to maintain fitness, the use of bicycle in Imphal areas is basically confined to newspaper distributors and non-local hawkers of household goods.

In comparison with the Imphal areas where its usage among the adult population is a rarity these days, bicycles are still widely used in the villages in the plains as a mode of both short-distance travel and for transportation of lightweight goods.

Apart from the imminent sweating and tiredness associated with cycling compared to riding motor vehicles, the poor road conditions in the twin capital districts, might be another deterrent for the project as the bicycle riders would definitely wish for the smoothest drive.

It is worth noting that the then minister Karam Shyam tried to popularise bicycling when he set aside specific days to pedal to office.

The objective didn't have the right impact but he did succeed in driving home the message on importance of maintaining physical fitness.

Thus, the project has great potential to revive popularity of bicycle riding if at-least the main roads could be made pothole-free.

On account of high cost of vehicle maintenance and spiralling price of petrol, the idea of introducing the new-looking bicycles could also rekindle public interest in pedalling.

Regardless of the possible hesitancy among the general population to embrace the ISCL's project in the formative period of its launch, all the right-thinking citizens shall have to extend support towards making the initiative a mass movement as the project aims at creating a healthy, environment-friendly and affordable transport service to the public.

As such, it is suggested that the project executives remain resilient and keep the focus on promoting the endeavour at select locations such as market area, hospital and educational institutions.