Selecting the Route
by on September 24, 2008
Unlike countries where cycling has been relegated to a mere sporting activity, we Indians see plenty of cycles every single day on all roads, at all hours. That in itself is half the battle won. Because they are a familiar sight, motorists and pedestrians will not be caught unawares when you ride into their midst. In fact, market areas, the busiest portions of any Indian city, are always teeming with bicycles.
The problem with bicycles is that they are not very much fun to ride on steep roads. To make up for that drawback, they are also much more nimble than a car. So instead of that freeway with five flyovers en-route, take the by-lanes parallel to it. In addition to avoiding the steep gradients you will also face lesser traffic.
The key is to stop thinking like a car driver (which is the quickest route) and think like a cyclist (which route is easiest to pedal). Planning the route itself is an enjoyable activity because you get to go out on your bicycle on the pretext of making test runs. I cannot remember a single instance of a car driver making test runs of the route he will pick to work, which means bicyclists are already having a better time, even before they begin commuting!