THE TWO WHEELER diaries
Dhaka, it looks like, is bursting at its seams with the overwhelming number of cars, buses and trucks hitting the streets every day. A city small in physical proportions yet harbouring an exceedingly high number of people, Dhaka at first sight is overcrowded and full of rubble. New construction sites emerge at every street corner and a staggering number of people clad in bright, astute colours throng the streets.
With so much going on simultaneously, you would think Dhaka would be perpetually stuck in a traffic jam. Well not so. The people here have fashioned a way around the traffic jams that clog the busy streets of the city. Say hello to the bicycle!
What seemed like only a passing thing when it started out, avid cyclers are a common sight in the city now. Many even have gone so far as cycling from the city to the lush country side towns of Bangladesh.
Dhaka sees a whopping number of cyclists take to the streets every day, kneepads, helmets, gloves et al. They hit the streets and weave through the sluggish traffic, beating these high speed automobiles to reach their destination.
Not only is cycling a faster mode of transportation these days, it is healthier, more environment friendly and cheap on your pocket, eliminating the fuel costs completely. Although Dhaka has yet to dedicate lanes singly for cyclists, there are bicycle routes that you may take when out on a leisurely cycle.
The routes inside the town are busy at most hours, but weekends and early mornings are some of the best times to go on a cycle tour. With the sun just peeking through, take your cycle out and whiz through some of the iconic streets of Dhaka city.
Through the lush broad streets of Lake Road, with Crescent Lake on one side and the backdrop of the parliament building on the other you will emerge onto Bijoy Sharani. From herein you can choose to ride through the streets of Karwan Bazaar and reach Minto Road or take a right to Hare Road. Both superbly lush green, sideways lined with large trees on one and Ramna Park on the other side, this is one of the calmer neighbourhoods in our otherwise busy city.
Another idyllic bicycle route is through the streets of Dhaka University. A city on its own, the university premises have retained many of the yesteryear charms of this city. Large trees jut out in the middle marking street squares, young men strum their guitar filling the air with soft songs and a pastoral charm blankets this university town.
On the other side of town, you will find Hatirjheel -- a symbol of the new Dhaka. A concomitant web of bridges, lanes and roads interconnected meant to relieve some of the traffic around the area, Hatirjheel promptly found itself to be the backdrop of family visits, selfies and late night drives.
Pictorial in this almost newfangled way Hatirjheel in early mornings and most weekends is a wonderful route for cyclists. From around here you can move towards the quieter blocks of Banani and Gulshan. Here the streets inside are devoid of too many people and thankfully the streets have retained much of their greenery making the tour a worthwhile one.
If you are not one for sourcing the picturesque nooks and crannies of the city, you can head out of town and into the countryside of Bangladesh which promises to be enthralling, adventurous and awe-inspiring all at the same time.
The meandering dirt-streets of the village at this time of year are lined with square blocks of paddy fields swishing in the slow breeze. The colours of rural Bengal are breathtaking to say the least and a cycle tour through these treasures no matter how tiring will be worth your while.
Buy a bicycle
Bongshal has a large variety of bicycle stores. Even if you are not planning to buy from there, it is recommended that you at least visit the place, since it is the Mecca of bikes. There are many Chinese and Indian brands. Hero, Avon and Atlas are popular among Indian products; their Chinese counterparts are lighter.
Cycles with alloy frames and rims are less heavy and you may need to stretch your budget a bit. These bikes will cost at least Tk.15000; the ones with steel frames can come with a mere price tag of Tk.5000.
On the other hand, you can check out CycleLife Exclusive, a concern of Meghna Group. The parent company has been exporting cycles like Raleigh, Diamondback, Coyote and Viking for many years. CycleLife Exclusive (222, Gulshan-Tejgaon Link Road) has a wide array of bikes with prices of around Tk.14000 to about Tk.48000.
Photo: LS Archive/Sazzad Ibne Sayed
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