LUDHIANA: In a boost to the bicycle industry of Ludhiana, the All India Cycle Manufacturers Association (
AICMA) has been taken in as a member of the World Bicycle Industry Association (WBIA) — a global industry think tank that represents bicycles, e-bikes and bicycle spare part manufacturers around the world.
The development was revealed by AICMA member and
Hero Cycles Ltd chairman Pankaj Munjal who recently attended the admittance ceremony at the WBIA general assembly held in Germany.
The WBIA is a member of the Inland Transport Committee (ITC), the highest policy making body at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in matters concerning transport.
Transport ministers and their cabinet experts regularly feature in the annual ITC discussions held at Geneva.
Speaking on the development, Munjal said, “While other vehicle bodies such as car manufacturers had a major voice at the ITC, the bicycle and e-bike industry, which is considered the most sustainable mobility option apart from walking, had failed to be represented because of a lack of coordination between the national associations on this platform.”
Munjal added, “Some of the most burning questions facing global society today, such as the role of intermodality as one of the cornerstones of sustainable mobility and transport; whether bike sharing should be part of the future of public transport design; the design of intelligent transport systems which can converse between cars; bicycles and traffic signals to ensure accident free travel and commute, were all being discussed at international forums. By being a part of the WBIA, we hope to keep ourselves abreast of these debates at the global level.”
