Ranchi man, Kanishka Poddar, 36, has recently been appointed as the first Bicycle Mayor of Ranchi by a Dutch based enterprise called BYCS.
Bicycle Mayor is a programme run by BYCS- an Amsterdam based NGO with a mission called 50by30. The idea is to get people from all corners of the globe to make half of all city trips on bike by 2030. Bicycle Mayors are
appointed to expand the cycling community not just with hobbyists but with people from all walks of life. As of now there are about 70 bicycle mayors the world over with 30 being from India while all have a tenure of two- years each.
“My role as a bicycle mayor is to support the cycling community from every strata of the society from local commuters to someone who cycles on a daily basis for fitness or passion. I want to work towards making the roads safer for cyclists and also encourage more people to take up the activity,” said Poddar. Bicycle mayors are appointed through a selection process by members of the local cycling community nominating someone along with recommendations fromthe Local MLA, Mayor and Deputy Commissioner.
Poddar commutes, organizes rides and other cycling events on a regular basis. “What clinched the post for me was the fact that I was connecting with people at all levels and also encouraging them to make cycling a part of their daily routine,” added the cyclist.
After being appointed, Poddar plans to work on three major agendas in Ranchi. The first being infrastructure where he intends to interact with the district administration and urge them to allocate designated parking spots for cycles as well.
“About 26 per cent of the local population travels by bicycles on a regular basis in Ranchi but there is no parking space for cycles in the city. I
intend to reach out to the authorities and convince them to make stands for cyclists as well which will be a great step in making the city cycle friendly,” remarked Poddar.
The second part is encouraging the citizens to take up cycling and also creating awareness among the motorists towards the safety of cyclists on the road. Poddar also intends to collaborate with the corporate houses based in Ranchi to generate alertness regarding the use of basic safety equipments
like reflector jackets for the rider and reflectors on the rear and front of the bike.
“Apart from this in the coming two- years I also plan to organise various events and cycling expeditions all through the year so that more people can get inspired to take up cycling which is a great way to not just remain fit but also a very environment friendly mode of transport,” said the fitness freak. The cycling enthusiast is also of the opinion that cycling helps one explore the city from a different perspective and discover places which the public is not aware of.
“Just 5 Kms away from the City is Horap Forest which has some breath taking sunset points lying totally unexplored. Cycling is one of the best ways to discover the hinterlands of the City. By becoming the bicycle mayor I would like to promote my city as a cycling friendly place over a period of time,” said Poddar.
Poddar completed his schooling from Vikas Vidyalaya and is an MBA from IIM Ranchi. Currently he runs a design studio for men’s ethnic wear under the brand Mulberry Lifestyle and a furniture manufacturing unit in Kokar. His journey as a cyclist started in 2015 with the idea of getting fit as he made it a part of his daily routine for doing regular errands. “What started as a form of regular exercise soon turned into a passion with long weekend rides. As my enthusiasm for the activity grew so did my love for long distance cycling. I have always been very passionate about travelling and now wherever I go I always make it a point to carry my cycle,” he added.
Over the years, Poddar has cycled from Bangkok to Cambodia which is about 1200 Kms. He has also trekked from Manali to Leh on his cycle. In 2018, he had organised an event called ‘I ride with India’ in Ranchi where about 150 cycling enthusiasts from all age groups participated. Poddar feels his parents Aarti and Subhas Poddar have immensely supported him and are now keen to see him perform in his new role. “My parents know how passionate I am about cycling and are confident that I will put my best foot forward," he said.