Three cycling events were held between August 13 and 15 in New Town in a bid to promote cycling as a means of last mile connectivity in the township.

The first event was exclusively for women. They took a ride from the business club to the clock tower. On the second day, a mixed group comprising mostly men rode a much long distance from the clock tower to the Eiffel Tower in Eco Park and on Independence Day two independent groups rode and culminated their rides in the township.

“The events may seem one-off but they are part of a well-thought out strategy,” said Debashis Sen, chairman cum managing director of Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation (Hidco) and chairman of New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA). “Our aim is to lure residents away from using buses and totos for last-mile connectivity and switch to bicycles.”

The all-women ride was introduced for gender balance. “We noted that elderly women, particularly, would be reluctant riding in a mixed group. One lady who turned up said she was riding after 25 years, another straight after her school days… Response was positive,” said Sen.

The authorities are also planning to teach cycling to those interested. “These steps are required to change people’s attitude. At present many believe cycles are for those who cannot afford anything else. Parents forbid their children from cycling for fear of road accidents. So we are expanding our cycle track network, asking them to use service lanes and building an ecosystem conducive to cycling,” he said.

He added that the sale of cycles had risen during the lockdown. “One large housing complex has informed me that over the past month or two 300 new bicycles have been purchased by their residents,” said Sen.

Namrata Bhatta, a resident of Mahishgot, adjoining New Town participated in the event with her two sons, aged 10 and 8. “I am a Baidyabati girl. In our growing-up years, cycle was the preferred mode of transport for all of us. We would think nothing of cycling five-six kilometres daily.”

Though she left her cycle back in her Hooghly district home after shifting to New Town post-marriage, she is now planning to bring it over.

“My sons had a cycle but did not ride it much. This event has created such a craze that they are cycling on their own even now that the event is over,” said the lady on Wednesday.

She had borrowed her neighbour’s cycle for the event, she added.