Commuting by Bicycle
by on September 22, 2008
I will complete one year of commuting to work by bicycle on the 25th of September 2008. Although I do not have exact numbers, some rough math gives me approximately 200 days of cycling to work (after deducting days when I took a rickshaw or the scooter) and about 1,600 kilometres of cycling just between home and office. Since we also use our bicycles for running errands into the city, frequent joy rides and to the malls and movies I add another 500 kilometres to that figure. Add my long distance trips — two to Lonavala (70 kilometres each) and one to Pargaon-Khandala (150 kilometres) and I get a total of around 2,400 kilometres. Not bad!
If there is any single investment made in my entire life which has paid itself off several times over, it has to be my bicycle. In monetary terms, 2,400 kilometres by rickshaw would cost me enough to purchase another bicycle all over. And this is considering that I pay the correct fare as shown by the meter and nothing over it. The scooter, although much cheaper to run, would still burn fuel costing the same amount of money needed to purchase an entry-level bicycle.
You want me to pour all that dough into the coffers of our already heavily subsidised oil and automobile companies, so their executives can use it to get another fancy car or a larger home? No thanks. I am happy letting that money remain in my wallet or bank account where it belongs.
And that is just the most visible economical impact that I am dodging. Besides, I save precious minutes not waiting in line at the fuel pump or servicing centre, get a healthy dose of exercise without needing to visit a gym and also have access to a convenient recreational activity that can be enjoyed any time.
I have a multi-part series planned for the next few days in which I will tell you how you too can be a bicycle commuter. It will cover the most basic stuff about purchasing a decent bicycle, accessories to go along, routes, clothing, safety and the weather. Feedback and comments are highly appreciated and can be sent to pranav@pranavnegandhi.com.