KATHMANDU, Jan 3: On December 21 last year, Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Gaurav Shamsher JBR cycled to the army headquarters in Bhadrakali of Kathmandu. Other army officers have also followed suit.
CoAS JBR, along with many senior army officers, has been cycling to the headquarters every Friday, leaving their vehicles at home. [break]“It´s a campaign,” says Brigadier General Suresh Sharma, who is also the spokesperson for the Nepal Army (NA). “Our campaign has two main goals - cycling helps keep us healthy and also minimizes air pollution in the capital.”
Two years ago, Suman Joshi, CEO of Laxmi Bank, started cycling to office once a week. He also encouraged other bank staffers to ride bicycles at least once a week. Today, a significant number of corporate honchos ride bicycles to work, though not everyday. Joshi says, “Despite several deterrents like pollution and unsafe roads, we still prefer cycles once a week.”
Like JBR and Joshi, many people, especially from the upper echelons, have embraced bicycle as an alternative means of transportation. The cheapest means of transportation is especially attracting the youth.
It has been two years since Kshitiz Shrestha, a documentary filmmaker, rides bicycle to work. “Cycling has helped keep me fit and healthy,” said Shrestha.
Cyclists say they prefer bicycles to keep themselves fit and contribute to reducing air pollution. Besides, fuel crisis, traffic jams, unreliable public transportation and parking woes also make them choose bicycles.
“Bicycles keep us healthy and our environment clean,” says Shail Shrestha, President of Kathmandu Cycle City (KCC), a network of cyclists that aims to develop the valley as a cycle city by 2020.
Hurdles galore
Although many people are now using bicycles, the Kathmandu valley is yet to be an appropriate place for cycling, given the lack of separate cycle lanes and air pollution.
“It is very difficult to ride a bicycle here because there are no cycle lanes,” says Samir Mani Dixit, a research scientist at Centre for Molecular Dynamics Nepal (CMDN). Dixit, who has been using bicycle for the last three years, says, “I still fear riding a bicycle in Kathmandu.”
On Oct 31, 2011, renowned conservationist Prahlad Yonjon, who always rode bicycle, was killed after being hit by a truck while cycling back to his home. Many believe that Yonjon would not have been killed had there been a separate bicycle lane.
“Certainly, it is very difficult to ride a bicycle in our city,” says Bhushan Tuladhar, regional technical advisor, South Asia at UN-HABITAT. “The lack of bicycle lanes, excessive pollution and lack of respect to bicycles are the problems that a cyclist has to face. People who are using bicycle are looked down upon in our society.”
With help from the government, KCC is now planning to develop Kathmandu as a cycle-friendly city. “We are conducting a feasibility study,” says Shrestha. “Once our study is complete, we will submit our design to the government.” More people are likely to use bicycles after the construction of separate cycle lanes, said Shrestha.
People still look down upon cyclists
Shail Shrestha
President, Kathmandu Cycle City
How many people ride bicycles regularly in the Kathmandu valley?
According to the census-2011 report, 32.38 per cent of the people across the country own bicycles. And, in the Kathmandu valley, 29.35 per cent own bicycles. But, most of them do not ride bicycles every day. Yet, it is good that cycles still outnumber other means of transportation like motorbikes and cars.
Shail Shrestha (Photo: Bijay Gajmer)
Why should people prefer cycles to motorbikes or cars?
First of all, it is the cheapest means of transportation. One can save money spent in buying fuel and regular servicing. It helps minimize air pollution. And, of course, we can keep ourselves fit and healthy.
What are the hurdles that cyclists face in the capital?
They face multiple hurdles. Social stigma is one major hurdle. Many still presume that only the poor ride bicycles; and look down upon them. It is absolutely a misconception. People should respect cyclists. The lack of cycle lanes is another major reason.
What should be done to develop the Kathmandu Valley as a cycle city?
First, the people must change their mindset and behavior toward cyclists. And, as many cycle lanes as possible should be built to develop the valley as a cycle city.
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