These techies are making moves in the right direction as they put pedal to metal. Technopark appears to have quite a number of techies, who commute to work on cycles on a regular basis. Nabeel S.A., a software specialist at Quest, often cycles in to work all the way from his home in Anchal in Kollam. That’s a good 50 km each way! “It only takes about two hours in the early mornings and in the evenings to make the journey. I start from home at 7 a.m. and usually am in office by 9 a.m. It’s the same time taken if you are travelling in a bus but healthier and pollution free,” says Nabeel.
Nabeel S.A.
Come rain or shine, Sony George, a project manager with an MNC, also makes the journey daily on cycle, from PMG Junction to Technopark. “I commute around 20 km daily. In the monsoon, I wear a rain coat and rain cover for my backpack,” says Sony.
Sony George
Nine Kollara, who also works at Quest, often cycles into work on Fridays, when there’s a relaxation in the dress code, and on hartal days. “Otherwise, I cycle around 40 km daily. I’d like to commute more often but when you cycle your body temperature goes up and I find that the air-conditioning in the office messes with my system,” says Nine.
Krishnan K.H., a senior software tester at an MNC, meanwhile, has been cycling regularly to work for the past one year or so. “I cycle about 5 km daily, especially if I’m on the evening shift and if I do not have to drop my wife off at work in Technopark and my daughter to play school. I took to cycling because it’s a good aerobic exercise to burn off the belly fat and its easy on the pocket too,” he explains.
Krishnan K.H.
Sense of purpose
Health and fitness, savings on fuel, reducing carbon footprint and simply riding for pleasure seem to be the top motivations for techies to take to cycling. Nabeel cycles for fitness. “I find working out in the gym quite boring. Cycling is a fun and an interesting way to get up close and personal with people and places,” he says.
Techie Anitha Nair also cycles for fitness. “I cycle to work primarily to get my weekly workout, which is interesting and it doesn’t take much time out of my schedule. My timings are suitable and this is working out well,” she says.
Anitha Nair
Anoop Ardhur Kutty, a senior HR manager and another keen cyclist, started cycling some four years ago to lose weight but soon it became a passion. “Cycling relaxes you mentally and the increased blood flow energises you before your work day,” says Anoop, who is now a speed cyclist aiming for a place in the state team. Sony also gets his daily dose of exercise through cycling. “I save about one hour everyday, which I used to spend jogging or at the gym. I save about ₹3,000 on fuel, a month. This way I can avoid endless traffic jams and do my bit to reduce pollution and increase rupee value by reducing oil imports...,” he says.
However, the cyclists say that Technopark is not bicycle friendly. For one, there is no dedicated cycling track on campus and the cyclists have to share the roads with other vehicles. “People in Technopark rarely use indicators and that’s quite dangerous for cyclists. If you are returning late from office, it’s not safe to ride, especially on the busy, unlit Bypass road,” adds Suman Satpathy, a senior software engineer.
Secondly, there are no proper bicycle stands on campus. “The cycles we use are expensive, costing between Rs. 30,000 and 1 lakh. It also has many delicate parts which people shouldn’t be playing around with. That’s why we ask for a safe place to park, preferably spaces under direct surveillance of security personnel,” explains Anoop.
There are also no showers on campus for cyclists to freshen up. “I know at least one cycle commuter who showers using the health faucets in the toilet to clean up!” says Anoop.
The situation is worse in Phase Three, say the cyclists. “There are no covered stands for bicycles and security personnel always tell us to park out in the open, despite there being plenty of space inside car parks. It’s sad to know that the greenest IT park in the country doesn’t even have cycle parking!” say Rituparna Das, a 2D animator, and Ajith Mathur, a compositing artist, who both work for Aries Epics Studios.
That said, things are starting to look up for the cyclists. Some companies have bicycle stands - or are in the process of constructing them. Infosys, for example, has got all the facilities that encourage more people to commute on cycle. “Along with that, cyclists get exception on parking fees for using multi-level parking facilities,” says John Mathew, who also commutes to office. UST has bicycle stands and is in the process of building showers and changing facilities for cycle commuters.
“The rumour is that the new Bypass expansion that’s happening may have a cycling path,” says Kesava Moorthy, another keen cyclist, much to the delight of many fellow cyclists.
Pointers
* Cyclists recommend wearing helmets, especially if the commute is long and there is a downhill ride en route
* Cyclists also recommend wearing reflective cycling gear, breathable jerseys and shorts, those with gel padding for saddle sores while riding. They make a difference on long rides, especially in terms of skin bruises.
* Commuters usually need to ride on bicycles with puncture resistant tyres - marathon tyres - and carry a kit to fix flats.
In need in Technopark
* Cycle stands and lockers
* Cycle track
* Showering facilities
