Architect Pranav Naik has been among the torchbearers in Mumbai for cycling both as a recreation and as a means to commute. Encouragingly, over the last one year, he has observed a steady increase in the number of cyclists in the city. The rides are getting longer too, he says. “Initially, we started counting the number of cyclists seen as a part of the cycling groups and noticed that in South Bombay, from 8 cyclists per hour earlier, it increased to as many as 40 cyclists,” he explains. “Towards Carter Road in Bandra, the number rose from 20 to 100 and even 200 at one point and that is when we decided to stop counting as it was becoming difficult to keep track.” 

Among the many things the pandemic has changed is the way we travel, especially in Mumbai. Cycling for pleasure and to run errands has been on the rise. Cycling groups, which were earlier limited to the suburbs, have emerged in South Bombay too, says Naik, and before the recent lockdown, they did group rides three-four times every week.