Affluent Gujaratis lead the fit way in saving fuel, on cycles

Ahmedabad/Rajkot/Vadodara: Across Gujarat, many car owners — including those with a luxury statement on wheels — are saddling up on their cycles, not just to heed the PM’s austerity call but also to take the healthier path in life.Affluent industrialists, businesspersons, and doctors are among those who are pushing the pedals on this commuter revolution.In Rajkot, cycling for health and financial prudence predates the West Asia conflict. Divyesh Agehra, an industrialist who runs an engineering unit in Rajkot and is associated with the Rajkot Cycle Club, has been cycling for the past 15 years. While he drives to his office, he prefers using a bicycle for short-distance work trips during the day.“I cycle up to 15km on average for work-related travel. It helps save fuel and keeps me fit,” Agehra said. “During peak summer, I usually cycle in the evening, while in winter I use the bicycle for work throughout the day.”Agehra initially started a small cycling group through a social club. Later, encouraged by the Rajkot municipal commissioner, he helped establish the Rajkot Cycle Club, which now has around 170 members.In Ahmedabad, cycling was a practical choice during the Covid pandemic for Jay Samani, a professional.During the pandemic, with vehicles off the roads and movement limited, Samani relied on a bicycle to reach quarantine centres to support patients. Over time, the routine turned into a habit rooted in discipline, fitness, and social responsibility.Today, he uses his cycle for errands, meetings, and commutes within a 35-40km radius.Samani said wider adoption of cycling can ease congestion and improve public health, especially if cities invest in safer cycling infrastructure. “Cycling not only conserves energy resources but also boosts personal momentum, improves physical fitness, and provides a unique sense of pride,” Samani said.Fitness through cycling is not a vague aspiration, as demonstrated by Rajkot businessman Atul Gupta, who has a pan-India tiles business. He cycles to work twice a week and keeps Sundays completely car-free.“I was highly diabetic, but cycling helped me significantly,” he said. “Doctors reduced my medication, and now I can even enjoy my favourite dishes without much worry.”Rajkot orthopaedist Dr Nishit Sanghvi affirms that cycling is closely linked to preventive healthcare. He cycles between 18 and 25 days a month, covering nearly 40km during each session.“My family has a strong history of diabetes from both my father’s and mother’s sides. I was highly vulnerable to developing the condition,” Sanghvi said. “To avoid reaching that stage, I started cycling and to date, I have not required medication, though doctors say I remain in a pre-diabetic condition.”In Vadodara, Vikas Shah, the owner of a hotel in Sayajigunj, increased the frequency of cycling to work after the PM’s appeal to save fuel. “I used to ride from my home to the hotel a few times a month,” he said. “It was a convenient and faster mode of transport and offered a good workout.”Shah now cycles four to five days a week.Another Vadodara resident, Sachin Jadhav, a long-time cycling enthusiast, began pedalling frequently to his workplace when fuel prices went up recently.“It’s a 20km ride from my home to the workplace and back. I used to ride to my workplace occasionally in the past, but now I have begun using a bicycle almost daily,” said Jadhav, a quality manager in a multinational company.He said, “It’s necessary to conserve fuel and riding a bicycle helps save a lot of money. Also, there is an added advantage of staying fit.”==BoxInfra challenges need to be tackledWhile the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) promotes cycling through a scheme offering Rs 1,000 assistance for bicycle purchases, cyclists say infrastructure on the ground is deficient.The civic body had developed an 11km model stretch along the 150 Feet Ring Road with dedicated footpaths and cycle tracks on both sides of the BRTS corridor. However, cyclists say the facilities are poorly maintained and largely unusable.They say large sections of the cycle tracks and footpaths have been encroached upon by hawkers and autorickshaws.