Goa has made a great pitch for supplementing the country's efforts in combatting global climate change, but nowhere there is a mention of promoting urban bicycling to reduce carbon emissions.
Now, why promote bicycling or for that matter non-motorised travel? It goes without saying – one cycle on the road means one less vehicle and more cycles mean lower carbon emissions that are responsible for the warming of the planet.
In June, this year, the government went all out to promote yoga for wellness and to this end inaugurated the Yog Setu with great aplomb, overruling the objections of a group of citizens from Panjim.
Yes, wellness is a good thing, but with all the vehicular pollution all around, how does one experience wellness while driving? Is it the wellness one experiences in the confines of one's AC car while the environment is heating outside that we are talking about?
What I am trying to stress here is holistic wellness that comes from both yoga and cycling, and these could be the panacea for our well-being. In a way, both complement each other – one is good for our health and the other, both our health and the environment.
While cycling in Goa is restricted to fitness and leisure, the few who use this mode daily are the labour class, who are treated as a nuisance on the road, when in reality they should be considered worthy.
Panjim has the potential to become a model cycling city in India given its topography and the serene River Mandovi that can provide the ambience and scenery for an avid bicycle rider.
I am not saying the city will be a better place without cars, but my point is both cars and cycles could co-exist – if not all of the city could have cycling lanes, at least most of it could. The safety of cycling lanes will encourage city dwellers to cycle and keep their cars and scooters at home.
Right now, there are no incentives to bicycle on the city roads which are packed and parked with vehicles. Besides the lack of safety and cycling lanes, the Goan weather is another demotivator.
Now, when it comes to the weather, we will need a change of mindset and, also, shower facilities at the workplace.
One must also realise that when Panjim incorporates cycling lanes, it will create more equitable streets. Having cycling lanes will also mean fewer cars on the city streets, and it will encourage people to walk more often.
If one goes to look very closely, over the last 140 years, the physical aspects of a bicycle have remained the same. The transition has been from steel to alloys, which means now we have lighter cycles needing less energy to pedal. Yet, we don't see many cyclists on the road.
One must also realise that when Panjim incorporates cycling lanes, it will create more equitable streets. Having cycling lanes will also mean fewer cars on the city streets, and it will encourage people to walk more often.
Also, cycling can be a great booster for promoting bike tourism. Panjim with its river views and heritage is a great place for cycling, but with fast-moving traffic and no bike infrastructure, that's not possible.
Cycling has undergone a sea change with the advent of electric bikes which require far less lithium than what is required for electric cars. The e-bikes can be easily used for travel up to 10 kilometres one way.
This means people living in areas like Santa Cruz, Merces, Ribandar, and Taleigao can easily commute to Panjim on cycles. However, the lack of infrastructure and the high number of two-wheeler accidents in the state are not encouraging.
At a time when global climate change is a reality, I see a lack of imagination and vision among the Goan leaders to make the state a better place by incorporating walking and cycling into our daily lives.
It is time to slow down, rewind and reminisce about how the humble bicycle has shaped our lives and led us to where we are today. Could we bring about a change by promising to ride our bicycles more often?
