In the face of fuel shortage bicycle regains lost charm
Source: The Sangai Express / Ningombam Brajamani

Imphal, May 21 2010: Bicycles which have been replaced by costlier, faster and more convenient but fuel consuming vehicles over the last decade have regained its lost popularity and reliability, thanks to the prolonged blockade which has resulted in acute shortage of fuel in the State.

Bicycles which were lying as useless scraps just about a month back in the backyards of almost every households were seen brought to cycle workshops with their owners giving special attention to repair them.

This was unthinkable a fortnight ago.

Good for health and environment, people take to the bicylcles

Not only old bicycles are being repaired, sale of brand new bicycles is also picking up from an all-time low record.

Talking to The Sangai Express, proprietor of Monika Cycle Workshop, Tourangbam Dhaneshwar said that his workshop was virtually closing down as very few people were using bicycles.

But unavailability of petrol in the last two/three weeks gave a new leash of life to the workshop with many bringing their unused or worn out bicycles for repairing, Dhaneshwar said.

A large number of bicycles, in poor state, due to prolonged disuse were also seen in the workshop.

L Ibohal who runs a bicycle store at Paona Keithel said that rate of bicycle sale had nose dived to an all-time low till the last month.

In the last two/three weeks, people started coming to purchase bicycles.

One Sanajaoba, a Government employee working at Imphal said that he used to go to office in a vehicle.

But due to the scarcity of fuel oils and the sky-high prices, Sanajaoba now goes to office on a bicycle from his home at Nambol.

"Going to office and coming back home on bicycle has turned out to be a good physical exercise besides saving money.

It also enables me to ease tension and stress", Sanajaoba said.

On the other hand, sale rate of vehicles and vehicle parts has declined in an unprecedented manner while many vehicle servicing workshops have been staying idle.

With most of school van service suspended due to unavailability of fuel oils, many students have started riding bicycles to schools.