‘Cycling during lockdown is not a fad, it will continue’

With health becoming a priority, a lot of people have taken up cycling as a fitness activity during the lockdown. While some thought it as a fad, those who have turned to cycling beg to differ.

“There is an increase in the number of cyclists, especially, after the lockdown. You can see individual cyclists or groups on a ride in the Marina Beach, ECR, OMR, Outer Ring Road, and so on. They might have taken up cycling to get away from boredom sitting at home, but many have realised the benefits of cycling. Any activity that you do for a month will become a habit. It’s based on the individual whether he/she continues cycling or not. If they are in the right group, they will get inspired by others and will not give it up,” says Hari Raju, a member of We are Chennai Cycling group (WCCG).

Koteeswaran MK, who is working with an automobile company tells us, “One of the most important learnings during this lockdown was to realise the importance of freedom. Freedom in all aspects — to venture out, breathe fresh air, and soak in nature’s blessings. Cycling is the best option to experience this. Although I have been cycling in the past, this lockdown has given me the time to take upon the activity with a lot more ease, without the morning hassle that’s normally the case when you commute to work. Even better, is the health benefits, not just physical but also mental. The long draining work from home effects can be easily balanced with a good ride on your cycle. Daily, I cycle early morning for an hour and find it to be very impactful at work. I also believe that even post the lockdown, the trend will continue as more people are increasingly becoming aware of the long terms benefits of cycling.”