A yr on, cycling campaign loses steam as handful pedal to work

Ranchi: A year has passed since the state urban development department and the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) launched ambitious ‘Shanivar No Car’ initiative to promote cycling among the masses as an alternative mode of transport. Two employees of Ranchi Smart City Corporation Limited (RSCCL) are leading by example. They are using bicycle as a mode of transport for their regular travel needs.
The ‘Shanivar No Car’ was an initiative launched last year to urge people to use bicycle for reaching their offices at least once a week to promote green mobility.
RSCCL company secretary Bipin Bihari Shah has been using bicycle as his mode of transport since the past one year. Shah said he got impressed with the concept after it was launched last year and decided to use cycle daily. “I live three kilometres away from office. After first Saturday in March last year, I felt I can do it on a daily basis. I decided to use bicycle daily,” he said.
As Shah is diabetic and also suffers from hypertension, he decided to do away completely with his car and started using his bicycle even for his domestic chores. “When I started cycling regularly, I realised that my health was also improving and my blood sugar levels and hypertension were under control. I decided to send my car to my native place in Bihar. Today bicycle is all I have kept for my transportation needs,” he added.
So, has he been successful in inspiring his colleagues? Shah said: “Most of them live far from office. So, they didn’t switch. However, I have come to know that a newly-joined colleague is also using bicycle for her transportation.”
The second employee from RSCCL who has been using bicycle is Rakshanda who is working as a consultant with Smart City project. Talking to TOI, Rakshanda said: “I have been in IIT campuses for my academics and I always have used bicycle as a mode of transport. So when I moved to Ranchi, the first thing I did was to purchase a bicycle and has been using it since the start of this month.”