It’s 5.45 a.m. and Sreedevi Ansar is on the phone. Soon, her lane in Eswara Vilasam road is lined with women wearing orange and green t-shirts, all on cycles. After discussing which route to take, the women set off. While some ride with confidence, others are more tentative on their bicycles. The women however, shout words of encouragement to each other, and an hour and a half later are back home.
This group of women is part of Indus Cycling Embassy’s effort to teach women how to cycle. Indus Cycling Embassy is a non-profit organisation that aims at promoting cycling to ‘everyone and anyone’. Says Ranjini P.R.: “My husband, Prakash P. Gopinath, is one of the founding members of Indus. I used to look on in envy as he and his group of fellow cyclists would go off on cycling trips. Although I wanted to learn how to cycle, I didn’t have the courage to ask Prakash as I was apprehensive if I could with my age, weight and health problems.” Having finally mustered up the courage, Ranjini was soon pedalling like a pro.
Says Prakash, who is senior section engineer, Southern Railways: “It was while teaching Ranjini and Usha, a friend of hers, how to cycle that I noticed that there are hardly any women cyclists on the streets. I discovered most women did not know how to cycle as there are no classes on bicycle riding. And so I decided to hold classes for women.”
Ranjini and Usha soon encouraged the women in their neighbourhood to learn how to cycle. And soon from two, there were four and now, there are 12 women and three teenage girls learning to cycle.
The women started slow by pedalling up and down their street. While most of the women got their cycle balance within a day or two, it took Minu Jose a week. “I gave up after two days when I saw the rest pedalling with confidence. The rest of the group however encouraged me and I was soon cycling with the rest. Although there were aches and pants, the company of my friends had me going,” says Minu.
Confident, the group has started venturing out of the comfort zone of their street and have started pedalling on the main roads. “We recently cycled up to the Museum and back. Sreedevi’s husband, Ansar, and Prakash accompany us on our rides, ” says Nazreen Jiaz.
The women always travel in groups when on the road. “Some of us are new to cycling on the main roads so we stick in groups so as to help and cheer on the other. While people do stare and pass snide remarks when we ride by, we ignore them. Now that the school holidays have started, we cycle in the mornings and in the evenings. Sreedevi is our group’s alarm clock as she wakes us up for the morning rounds,” says Shakeela Noonbava.
When asked what it is about cycling that captivates them, the women answer unanimously, “Freedom!”
Says Minu: “We no longer have to depend on our spouses for transportation. Like when I need to go to the grocery shop, I call a friend and we are off on our cycles. Besides, cycling is eco-friendly. We have also found that cycling keeps us fit. Being amongst friends helps us share some fun. We hope more and more women join our sisterhood.”
Just for women
The classes are free.
Apart from how to ride a bicycle, students are taught how to check and fix a faulty brake, how to pump the bicycle, road rules and etiquettes…
Contact: 8089494442
