New Delhi: Established by United Nations General Assembly in 2018, June 3rd is celebrated as World Bicycle Day to recognize the bicycle as a simple, affordable, reliable, clean and environmentally fit sustainable means of transport. The day commemorates the anniversary of the invention of the bicycle by Karl von Drais in 1817.
In India, cycling is more than a primary mobility option in India, is a way to grow the nation’s economy and deliver to communities in-need. According to National Family Health Survey (NFHS) in 1998-99 about 47.8 percent people owned bicycles and nearly 1.6 percent of families owned cars. However, by 2005-06, the number went up to 56.5 percent for bicycle owners and 2.8 percent for car owners.
According to a report from The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) titled ‘Benefits of cycling in India’, 23 percent of working Indians in urban areas did their daily traveling on food while 13 percent are dependent on bicycles.
Adding glamour to the number, celebrities today seemed to support bicycles. Celebrity couple Neha Dhupia and Angad Singh Bedi celebrated the day and vow that its about time we consider alternative transportation. They were seen taking a ride on their bicycles on the roads of Mumbai.