There was so much of joy going by bicycle. When I was studying
in high school, I was one among the few lucky guys to get a bicycle to go to
school. Those days in Tamilnadu, India there was a law that only one rider is
allowed on the bicycle. However there was no law prohibiting carrying big
bundles, sacks or wooden boxes in the goods carrier fitted above the back
wheel. My cycle had a big goods carrier to help my dad to bring wooden cases
containing tea powder that he used to sell in retail as a part time business. This part of the machine used to make lot of
noise and I do not remember to have used the bell to alert pedestrians.
However my friends like this because they can sit
comfortably on that and have a good ride. Though there was prohibition to
travel like that, no one seems to worry about and only when we spot a traffic
policeman on road the pillion rider used to get down. However the policemen
allowed small children to travel as pillion riders.
The bicycle was such a lovable vehicle and we use to
maintain it so well. In those days the buses were not crowded. The bus
frequency was so low that we used to have printed time tables of the buses
starting from a terminus close by our residence. We boarded the bus only if we
had to go longer distance or if we had to go with other family members.
Two wheelers are very rare. Some people used to have a
scooter, some used Royal Enfield motor cycle and some peopled used to travel by
mopeds. Very rich people owned cars and being a car driver itself was a proud
profession.
Now the scenario has changed completely. Only very poor
people do not have bikes. There is no moped these days and even scooters are
very few and unlike in the previous days mostly the scooters are driven by
ladies. Now that the commercial name scooty has become popular to refer the
scooter.
Whenever I go to big cities in Tamilnadu, I notice that
there are too many two wheelers parked on the sides of the roads. Bicycles are
very few. The motor cycles consume petrol. They are pretty unsafe to ride.
Travelling on motor cycle results in heavy dehydration and some people get back
pain. Each motor cycle contributes amply to global warming. Earlier in places
like Madurai we can experience shivering cold in the month of December every
year. Now it is so warm that we do not feel cool at all. Our laziness to use
the bicycle has contributed to this increase in atmospheric temperature.
Also no one bothers about designing a safe vehicle for the
lone ladies, senior citizens and ladies with small children. Going by a bike is
absolute rubbish for this segment but still that is the only option available.
Going by a two wheeler has become status symbol.
A study by Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial
Services Ltd says that the two-wheeler population has increased from 14 lakhs
to 126 lakhs between 1993 and 2012 .
If we assume that the average distance covered by each two
wheeler per day is about 10Km. The amount of petrol consumed by two wheelers
per day
In 1993 @ 35km per litre milage = 14000000/35=
4,00,000litres
In 2012 @ 45km per litre milage = 126000000/45=
28,00,000litres amounts to Rs21 crores
per day Rs.7500 crores per year. At least half of this could be saved if people
change the recently acquired value that going by motor cycle is a show off of
better status. Also the public transportation in India whether owned by
government or private is awfully bad because of poor conditions of vehicle and no
discipline in numbers boarding during peak traffic times. The buses and trains are
jam packed and almost all buses are not air conditioned. In the literal meaning
the public transport system is cheap and the mentality of the public who use
this is also to pay minimum ticket fair. To save few rupees they are ready to
take up such uncomfortable and unsafe travel.
At the same time the cost of travelling by two wheeler is
about Rs.40 per day for a distance of 10 km if we consider the depreciation of
the vehicle at the rate of 15 % per annum ( taking an average vehicle cost Rs.35000/-)
and the fuel and maintenance cost @ Rs.2 per km.
Two people or even three sometimes including small children
travel risking their life.
So it is felt that we should make use of bicycles for small
distances and the public transportation needs great amount of improvement. The
improvement is needed not only in India but also in developed countries where each
individual weighing just less than 100 kg use a 1250 kg weight car to go to
office and shopping. This is colossal waste of energy, resources and space.
Special vehicles with four wheels and motor powered,
weighing least, say for instance, less than 200 kg and capable of moving at 40
Km an hour should be designed to transport two people. The TATA nano car was a good initiative but
because of high cost this has not met with success. The car should have a rain
canopy and when it is not raining it should be open like a rickshaw.
The two wheelers are to be replaced with such vehicles and
bicycles for safe commutation, better energy management.
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