mumbaimirrorpoll

Mumbai Mirror started a poll on 3rd June with a title "If city roads get cycle-worthy would you use cycles to travel?". Respond was gathered through sms, (MTPOLL leave a space and send your opinion to 58888). Also you can call and leave your message. You can also email to mumbaitalking@indiatimes.com. The final result was published today of the poll.
Please note poll is over...

And it was a very positive poll result.
Amazing to see 90% of people voting yes for using cycle if it was worth and why not European and Western countries are an example.

on the other hand Mumbai Mirror has started a poll for existing roads. Now i wonder even if cycling lanes come up in Mumbai at some places; It will be a dangerous situation if the cycling tracks develop pot holes.

6thCriticalmass

6th CRITICAL MASS(Mumbai)

Some 50 to 60 cyclists turned up for the 6th CM. Most of them couldn't make it. may be it is too hot to ride and most of them come from far off.
Why count just ride :)
This time we also noticed a lot of new faces. And most of them are so enthusiastic about the whole cycling thingy.
We started at 5:30 pm. And headed towards Bandra Carter road again this time.
As Ranjiv Jhangani had invited us (cyclists) for the event organized by Ranjiv and his team members of KBS Association (Khar, Bandra, Santracuz Association) for Cycling track implementation along with awarness drive and traffic analyzing with Colin and Faizan of Open Bicycles Project.

For more info

Chief quest was Harish Baijal Deputy commissioner of police (traffic); some may not know him. But his work and implementations are famous among many people (for eg Drunk driving campaign, Helmet among two wheelers).

there were some 200+ people for the event along with cyclists.

After the introduction and speech one of the BMX rider (Vigesh) did some Flatland stunds for the audiance and the by standers. It was fun lot of people garthered near the spot.
Some of them were missing as they have BMX race going on in Khar side.They also screened two movies on bogota a place in columbia where cyclovia was implemented, once in a week roads are closed for all automobiles.

Lets hope for the best and keep cycling; some time in future we can see dedicated cycling lanes in Mumbai and for now atleast in KBS. (Even after its implementation i hope people don't miuse it).

More pics of Critical Mass; thanks to Ashok.

criticalmass_fourth

Critical Mass the coming Saturday – 28 Mar 09
Meeting point at Shivaji Park Dadar(w) 5 pm.

More critical mass posters by Renny and our Cyclists.in page for the critical Mass. Join up ! Spread the word.

Powai_road_widening

23rd Feb I was in Thane (yehoor) forest for Mahashivrati Vigil.
Along with my friends and brother. We traveled by BEST Bus.

As every one knows Powai road are in pathetic condition.
I was shocked to see Powai IIT walls demolished and also many trees chopped to make roads wide. For many people this will be a relief for some time (including we cyclist who use road sides).











Wait till 23rd March "TATA NANO" world cheapest car comes in Indian Market.

I can see people owing 2 to 3 Nano cars at one home. one each for all family members. And also one for their pet. :D

All place near road sides will be occupied by Car owners, rickshaw, Truckers and other motorist, as usual in most part of the world.

And not to forget Mumbai's second life line "Best buses" blocking the whole road to load, unload passengers.

End result all commuters will be frustrated. Only civil contracts, Govt officials will be happy as every one gets their share of money.

But in a long run will this help???

Most of the 5 lane expressways in the world are also clogged during peak hours.

So this lands to a simple solution.

BRT and Inspire people to take up Cycling. Will also need some more soultion in future.

Also Controlling the Population in India.

CriticalMassthird

This time only 48 cyclists turned up for the ride.May be because of the exams around. So may be kids are busy studying and some forcing their kids to study.

Brian came for the ride. He is 70+ years old, and still rides approx 15km daily. Thank you for coming brain, from all the mumbai-bikers.
Gagan had come all the way from Pune to Mumbai. He happen to come for the critical mass ride.
Thank you for joining us.

This time we really enjoyed CM as we could interact with lot of college students and family near to Welingkars, Podar, Ruia college.

Roads were crowded at places, which is good that we can be noticed. But at some places vehicles were also more. But there were no casualty, as we were in a group.

Please people who ever comes for Critical Mass ride. Please wear a helmet. (a local one cost 350 to 400 rupess(kamachi brand), please check helmet availability with shops


Town
1) #5, Opera House New Queens Road Girgaon Mumbai-400004 Landmark: Opp. Charni Road Station Phone: 022-23678801, 022-23677570
2) #421 Kalbadevi Road Kalbadevi Mumbai-400002 Phone: 022-22014031, 022-22014032


Mumbai Suburbs
Hyper city (Malad)


Central side
Firefox Thane


coming to the point.


we distributed some critical mass fliers to the college folks and also to a teacher. I Wish he puts up on the college notice board.

College students reading this post, if you can help us in posting details and interacting with few guys in the college will help us spread the word.














Few images from March CM

third_critical_mass

Mumbai Third Critical Mass is here are you riding???

Date & Time: Saturday 28th FEB 2009 5:15PM(ones with rental plans arrive earlier)
Meet Point: Shivaji Park (Near Tennis Court)
End Point: Shivaji Park (Near Tennis Court) Its a LOOP!!
Ride Distance: 6Kms approx.
Dress Code: White, Preferably
Considered Compulsory: Helmet/CAP (Helmets are a life saver. A one time investment can save you from a lot of time and injury)

Route:
Shivaji Park- Tilak Bride via Plaza Cinema- Cross 1st Circle under Flyover- Left on Mancherji joshi Rd- Five Gardens-St.Joseph School- VJTI/Khalsa/Don Bosco- Maheshwari Circle- Loop Around to take road leading to Matunga(Central)- Podar/Ruia College rd-Left from DPs Hotel junction towards Highway-Take highway to Tilak Bridge -Cross Sena Bhavan junction to Shivaji Park .


Critical Manners :
• Please follow lane discipline and road signals where necessary.
• This is not a Race, but a silent march. Be Proud not in a Hurry :)
• A Helmet should become your ALL TIME best friend every time you cycle.
• We are NOT a group/organization/party-just a bunch of people who have together with a single passion in mind- Cycling!
• Please Carry Water with you ( Backpacks/ Bottle Holders)
• This will be peak hour time so some locations maybe clogged with traffic. Be Careful and Alert.
• There is no leader/ organizer for Critical Mass. You are on your own but we co-exist around each other.

P.S- All those coming for cycle rentals please go to the cycle rental shop near mahim well in advance.(address and contact)
http://www.cyclists.in/group/criticalmass/forum/topics/cycle-rentals-mahim
Carry Photo ID proof with you.
Cycle rental is your personal responsibility. Please make sure that you return it back to the Store.


CYCLE RENTAL SHOPS (MAHIM)
1)Tayeeb bhai - no phone number - has 6 big cycle
2) Abu cycle Shop (Javed) - 9769764899 - 3 big cycle, 4 bmx, 2 sort of bmx
3) Shamim Sidui - 9892784745 - 2 big cyle and 2 bmx


Previous Critical Masses Images





























Post Courtesy (Renny)

Tungareshwar Ride 31st Jan 08

Sorry for delay in posting.

Tungareshwar Ride was on 31st Jan 08.

15 cyclists had come in for Tungareshwar ride.

Few of us came via train till Virar station and rest rode from Fountain hotel (Bhyander).

Apart from covering such long distance. People were geared up for the climb.

We fueled our self and headed towards mount top at 8am.
Initially it was fun as the surface was rocky and hard.

Then we reached to Shiva Temple at 9:00 am, had a cup of tea, and waited there for some time. And headed towards the mate baba (if I am right), famous for his herbal tea. Which local people informed us. But we forgot about the tea. Because our brain and body was not working as usual it use to be after reaching the top :)

As on the way it was soft mud (almost 2 to 3 inch) every where and deadly incline.

Initially most of us had the power to ride but then slowly some of them got of the bike and started dragging the bikes.
After reaching a point almost every one waited and took a break. Kaushik and Prabbhuda started riding towards the top. Only they completed it first with just 1 or 2 halts.

Kaushik has improved his cycling skills and stamina with
help of TFN and Rnair, oh and ya he was on a flat smooth tyre.

Rest all of us reached there by 11:30 am with our bikes full of dust. There was soft mud ever where, passing vehicles would also spread the mud all around; ultimately we had to cover our whole face.

After reaching top every one was exhausted as it was some 2250 km above sea level and torturing heat, no one remembered herbal tea.

Hats off to all those on single speed. Cycling long distance with out gear is very difficult, at least for me :)

After reaching top we got our self freshened up. Anindya, Amit, Chetan and Rupali left via the same way. 11 of us rode on the other way down hill.

And all of us were on really amazing speeds. As this side road was good.

Moral of the story: - It took us hours to reach the top and just 12 min to reach down.

One of the Best ride... some were cursing initially but later on ever thing was ok. Was fun riding.


All of us started riding towards Virar station. All reached back home safe.
I stopped at a place know as dhata pada(Temple), Family and relatives were
present for a function. Met them all had lunch and by 5 pm i headed towards
Manor (vada) some 40+ km from Virar.

Reached the farm house of Hemant who started the bicycle project along
with Simona.

Very nice place worth riding the Manor spot.

Morning we went to the school distributed 70+ cycles to tribal school kids.
Cycle were given out on two criteria 1st Merit and 2nd Distance covered
daily by the student(walking) to reach school.

Kids were so happy about the whole cycle distribution thing.

If you have old cycle please help them repair and distribute to a needy kid.

http://thebicycleproject.blogspot.com/

more pics

second Critical Mass Mumbai

What a superb ride!

75+ cyclists turned up for 2nd Critical Mass Mumbai.

At 5 pm we were only 5 to 6 cyclists, but then people reached in group of 5, 10 and 15 almost at 5:30, so we were surprised and energized after seeing cyclists in good numbers.Also few cyclists joined us on the way. As few of them were late.

There were journalist from Afp, DD, Hindustan Times (please note this time HT Journalist Damini rode along with us, Thank you for the support and hope to see you and other for more rides in future :)

We left Shivaji Park at 5:45 pm. and rode through Tulsi Pipe road till Haji Ali, we covered some 7 km. Some left for Nariman Point to relax and cyclists who stay near South side of Mumbai left for their home. And some of us headed back to Shivaji Park and from there towards our home.

No injuries or accident, because all of us were riding together in a group.

This time we could notice a lot of elderly people joined in for the ride. next time two more legends are suppose to ride along with us. they have committed. Both are in the age group of 75 to 80 old.

It was fun. Thanks to all the rides for making this event memorable.

Also keep coming in for rides. Don’t want to write long story and bore you all. Enjoy Images

Images by Anindya

goraiuttancycleride

goraiuttanriderearview
Originally uploaded by Mumbai-bikers

11th Jan we rode cycle on Manori, Gorai and Uttan roads.

This island is just besides Mumbai, or you can say some parts come under mumbai judistriction. You will notice less number of vehicles on this patch.

To reach the destination we took a boat at 8 am from Marve (Malad) to other side Manori. We started late. Normally our ride starts by 6:30 or max 7 am. But since it is winter, people tend to wake up late, and also climate is ok to ride even after 10 am.
10 cyclists had joined for the ride, Also some fresh face. Was impressed to ride along with Vinod(54 yrs), he was fast and covered approx 65 km from Juhu side.

Most of the Uttan, Gorai and Manori stretch is covered with trees on both side. So you really don’t bother of time. As by the time we reached the start point it was 2pm. But worth riding cycling on gorai and uttan roads.

Also if you notice the Mountain behind is at Uttan dead end in the pic. There is a steep slope from the top. Which Kaushik and Rahul did it twice. And also you can see Naigaon on the opposite side.

Uttanmountain
Originally uploaded by Mumbai-bikers

We rode back to start point and after reaching there we saw a Bor wala(Tamrind, Jujube, etc vendor), it remind every one of us school days.

Vikas and Anil rode towards Madh island and crossed Versova and rest of us headed towards link road from Marve.

Will try to organize a ride soon again on the same stretch if people request.