Government should encourage use of cycles

By: M S Bhogal

Bicycle is the poor man’s conveyance in India. It is eco friendly and low cost mode of conveyance.

Unfortunately the Indian Bicycle Industry is going through a very bad phase as of today. Among the many factors contributing to this are the discouraging policies of local Govt. such as ban on use of Cycle Rickshaws in Metro Cities and time restrictions on plying of these while favouring use of Auto Rickshaw and Mini Buses etc. Such acts are resulting in increased pollution levels in cities causing bad effect on human health.

In contrast to this, developed countries such as Japan and the European Union, Universities and Business houses with large premises promote use of cycles for inter department commuting.

Indian Governement should also make such policies and encourage use of Cycles rather than banning their use. More R&D centers such as "R&D center for Bicycle & Sewing Machines-Ludhiana" should be brought into existence which should develop new low cost Cycle and Rickshaw designs and the processes to produce these could be adopted by the industry.

Easy finance schemes could be promoted to encourage use of this mode of commuting and transport. This will make it possible for the labourers doing labour on Hand Carts to cart goods in congested localities to switch over to Cycle and Rickshaw thus reducing their hardships in earning their living.

Bhogal Sons (Regd.)

Measures need to be taken at all levels to keep this industry from dying a slow death due to policies and permissions a cycle is the most widely used mode of transport for the majority of Indian citizens.