An Honest Bicycle | T. Vijayendra

“The market is too race-centric; carbon fiber, electric shifting, full suspension, 11 speed, doesn’t really enhance the enjoyment of cycling. In the 1970’s and 80’s we cycled to be closer to nature, for the environment, for our health, for the simple beauty of cycling.†—Junzo Kawai, the founder of Suntour
 
In this piece, we use the word ‘honest’ in the same sense as ‘honest’ food – food that is wholesome and nutritious, as opposed to junk food. By an honest bicycle, we mean a roadster or a bicycle which the ordinary people use for daily commuting. Therefore, an honest bicycle is contrasted with the ‘junk’, ‘fancy’ bicycle market. So, what makes a roadster an ‘honest’ bicycle? Well, it is a ‘no nonsense’ bicycle meant for daily use for rides that are only a few kilometers long, at speeds of around 10 kmph. It is made of steel, and if well-maintained, can easily last up to 50 years.

In fact, it is extremely easy to maintain, and most of the maintenance can (and ought to) be done by the owner herself–even simple punctures! An overhauling done once in two years will ensure a long life. This can be done by a local bicycle repair shop. Even significant breakdowns which may require welding can be done in a local workshop, as the spare parts are easily available in the market. This type of ‘honest’ bicycle costs between 5000/- and 10,000/-rupees, today.

We are not against special cycles like race cycles. They can occupy about one percent of the cycle market. In any case, a decent race cycle costs tens of thousands of rupees. However, the fancy cycle market imitates the race cycle model and offers it at a much lower price than a real race cycle – somewhere between ten and twenty thousand rupees. Obviously, it is a fake or imitation model with all the well-known ‘qualities’–attractive to look at when new, difficult to maintain, has built-in ‘obsolescence’ (the process of becoming antiquated, out of date, old-fashioned, no longer in general use, or no longer useful) and overall is a waste of scarce resources. Essentially, it is a use-and-throw model. It attracts the younger generation of neo-rich people, a class that has come into being after liberalization starting from 1990. The fancy cycle market in India is thus essentially a 21st century market.

Within the roadster cycles there are a few choices. The chief among them is of course the ladies versus gents cycle. We recommend the ladies cycle for the following reasons: 1. It gives an upright sitting position and is the most comfortable ride for short distances at moderate speeds (up to 15 kmph). 2. It allows mounting without raising one’s legs round the bicycle, meaning that one may wear any dress or garment while using a cycle – saree, skirt, hijab, dhoti, lungi, shorts and even a formal suit or dress. It will not rumple them. 3. You can carry something on your back carrier, including a child, friend or spouse and still use the cycle with comfort.   

Within the ladies cycle, there are a couple of options. The important things to look out for are the shape of the handle and the kind of the cycle stand. We recommend the handles whose grips are bent at right angles, parallel to the cycle. This allows the upright riding position most comfortably. If the handle is spread out, it compels the rider to bend while cycling.

When considering the cycle stand, two options are generally presented – one which has the bicycle leaning on one side, and the other which goes below the back wheel and allows an upright, more stable position. We recommend the latter. This stand can also be ‘locked’, so that the cycle does not move or fall down. This allows the cycle to be turned into a mobile shop!

A few choices available in the market

We are giving a few examples of the models in the Indian market. This is neither an exhaustive list, nor a list of ‘recommended’ models. In fact, most often the choice depends on your location.

1.     Neelam Avia Lady Bicycle Rs, 5130/-
2.     Hercules – Popular DTS Ladies – Rs. 5585/-
3.     Atlas – Celia – Rs. 6555/-
4.     Hero cycles- Miss India – LYRA – Rs. 7165/- – 7270/-
5.     Avon Cycles – ROHINI IBC 26 T – Rs. 7191/-
6.     Suncross – Raleigh –Classic Lady Rs. 9595/-

The information is from the internet. The actual prices may be less.
Honest Owners of the Honest Bicycles

The owners of these honest bicycles need to be honest also! What do we mean? The majority of the owners depend on these cycles for their daily commute to their jobs. In fact, if they lose their bicycle it is a major disaster, as has been shown so dramatically by the famous Italian film, ‘The Bicycle Thief’, or more recently by the Hindi film ‘Mattu ki bicycle’. So, for the sake of their livelihoods, the owners have to take care of their cycles and keep them in good running condition. For this, not only should they themselves do regular daily and weekly maintenance, but also get them repaired immediately in case of wear and tear and accidents. For this, they also should have good relationships with the bicycle repair people. In short, they are working people who have to respect other workers. Even the middle class owners – like school teachers, clerks etc. have to respect the dignity of labour. Contrast this with the owners of fancy bicycles – who are generally children of the relatively affluent classes or spoiled children of the middle class or better off workers. Their cycles tend to not be maintained properly and look bad within a few months. They need to be replaced soon! They do not know the cycle repair person and have little respect for the dignity of labour. In short, they are not ‘honest’ people. Let me hasten to say that there are exceptions to what I have said above. It is just a general qualitative picture.

To illustrate, let me quote from a recent communication I had from a reader:
The cycles took me back to my childhood. We had ’Jeevan Khan Cycle Taxi’ near our house in Raichur, Karnataka. Jeevan Khan was called Jeevan bhai and he had cycle rickshaws and bicycles which he would give on hire. Cycles were rented on hourly basis. He had small ones too for children which we used to ride for 25 paise an hour.
 
He did not have ladies bicycles though. Some bold girls in our town would rent the men’s Hero cycles and we would look at them in awe. Later, my niece (who is 4 years younger than me) and I got our own BSASLR- a girls’ bike, but before that we also rode the gents cycle...first kainchi and then seat.  

 Now Jeevan bhai, who was also my father’s friend, is long gone, his cycle shop was run by his sons. Now it has been upgraded and they have auto rickshaws and motorcycle repairs. Actually the whole town is unrecognisable now. The mountains/rocky terrain that were behind our lane where we used to slide and fly kites in summer holidays have also diminished to a great extent.  —Nikhat Fatima, Hyderabad
 
An honest community for honest people and honest bicycles!

This nicely shows that the fancy cycles are not the principal villains. They are just a part of an overall change of our society since liberalization. The cycle repair man is no longer a Bhai who was your father’s friend. Today, the urban space in Metros is so expensive that the ‘puncture walla’ has been brought down to the footpath!

Fossil fuel-based auto rickshaw and motorcycles are everywhere. Of course the major occupiers of the street are the car wallas who don’t want anyone else on the road, including other cars. They want the whole road clear for them so that they can go fast. They want hawkers removed from the road, pedestrians restricted to the footpath, bicycles to bicycle lanes. I am not sure where they want the motor cycles and auto rickshaws to go! They cause accidents and injure and kill people, sometimes themselves also. Road accidents are the biggest killer in society.

Fossil fuel-based transport has caused cities to expand and colonies have come up. They have depleted the water table through deeper and deeper tube wells. On the other hand, by paving roads and partially paving gardens and car drive-ins, they have stopped the rain water from going underground, leading to devastating floods in the city with the slightest heavy rain.
All this has resulted in a deep crisis – social and environmental. Inequality has risen and the environment has been degraded to an unprecedented level. Any visitor to Bangalore, Bombay or Hyderabad will quickly conclude that these cities are not viable any more. They are like a drowning ship and the sooner you leave, the better. But where will you go?

 Cities of Tomorrow

India has an urban population of 300 million, greater than the population of the USA, or for that matter, greater than any country except China. This urban Indian population lives in a total of 400 urban agglomerates. Of this urban population, more than half (180 million) lives in 35 cities that have a population greater than a million. The three metros/mega cities, Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi have more than 10 million residents. Hyderabad and Bengaluru, have more than 5 million. All these 35 cities have become totally unviable. They are facing big problems in terms of water, waste management and transport. For the purposes of this piece, we will mainly discuss the transport problems.

These cities suffer from traffic congestion and jams. The bicycle has emerged as the fastest transport in these cities. Sometimes even walking is faster. The air pollution level in most cities crosses danger marks often due to fumes from fossil fuel-based transport. The main culprit is the private cars. They are parked for 18 hours per day occupying, valuable urban space. The slow traffic and idling motors at traffic junctions cause immense air pollution. Banning them will be one of the first steps required. However, the real solution lies in breaking up these cities into smaller units of population of 5 lakhs each. In these cities, bicycles will be the main transport, though many people may even prefer walking!

The Bicycle and the Cities of Tomorrow

First, we define the cycle as a human-powered wheel-based transport. This will include cycle rickshaws and other three-wheelers like ice cream vendors, municipal waste tricycles and 3-4 wheeled push carts where a lot of hawker trade goes on. We propose that the entire city’s transport be based on bicycles only. It is entirely possible if the cities are small.

In such a city, the bicycle – human-powered wheel-based transport–can take care of all the transport issues. In some cases, animal power can also be used. These machines will not be fancy bicycles, but sturdy roasters, locally fabricated cycle rickshaws and other 3 and 4 wheelers.

Let honesty prevail!

Happy riding!
 
July 9, 2024

Email: t.vijayendra[at]gmail.com
Mobile: 95916 05634