Several names have been attributed to the city of Bangalore: Silicon Valley, the garden city, IT hub, to name a few. But could this land of tech pioneers also be the cycling capital of India? Here’s why Bangalore needs a good cycling infrastructure:
- Respite From Traffic: From memes to newspaper headlines, we’ve constantly seen, heard, and even found ourselves stuck in Bangalore traffic, particularly during rush hour. And its frustrating. A good cycling infrastructure can bring some much needed respite for the citizens of Bangalore. A small shift from four and three wheelers to bicycles can make a huge difference in decongesting roads, and saving a lot of time for commuters.
- Makes For A Healthier City: For most of us, having a healthy weekend would mean heading to cubbon park or another green area for a short walk or run. But if they city has a good cycling infrastructure, there is no question that people would make use of the system to pursue their fitness goals. One of the biggest reasons why people choose not to cycle to work or even for leisure, is the lack of good cycling infrastructure. People who cycle to work are healthier, and even more productive than those who lead a sedentary lifestyle. Need we say more?
- It Can Help Your City Save A Lot Of Money: We do know that an increase in the number of cars, buses, and other big means of transport equals more spends on fuel, road transport, maintenance of infrastructure, parking costs, and more. It also means noise and air pollution, which invariably calls for healthcare spends. It’s safe to say that we will be saving in big numbers if the majority of the population chooses cycling as a mode of transport. Low pollution, better health, and less overall expenditure!
- It’s Better For The Environment: Let’s face it — the planet is crying out for help, and we need to act now. Making the switch to green transport is the need of the hour. Enabling a good cycling infrastructure could be the first step in the direction of a greener tomorrow
In a recent report, Bengaluru was the second most congested city after London in a global comparison. Although at a nascent stage, it seems like the city is taking small steps in this direction. Only recently, the Karnataka Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) set up a bidirectional protected cycle lane for those who like to commute on bicycles. This pilot project will cover a 500-metre stretch.
Cities like Copenhagen (where 62% of its populace commutes via cycles), Amsterdam, Utrecht, Antwerp, Oslo, Berlin, and Tokyo all boast of a great cycling infrastructure. And guess what? The people love it!
We could take a page from their book and transform Bangalore — the city needs it!
Gro Club offers bicycle on subscription for kids which they can exchange as they Grow! Visit gro.club to try it out for yourself and ride towards a greener future.
