The first few weeks after joining the masters here, I felt really awkward not to possess a bike. Even when I got myself a bike, I attracted more attention for not riding, but walking the bike around. I actually had the intention of learning how to ride the bike. With that intention I went to the TU/e Sports centre to check whether they provide any biking courses. The guy gave me a ‘Are you kidding me?’ look and I didn’t dare to ask anyone else about it again.

I was born and brought up in a city with approximately 4.5 million people and thousands of automobiles to carry these people around. There are buses, trams, taxis, cars, autos, rickshaws, trucks and motorbikes running around in the street.

So the options there are either you ride a bike through the middle of all these or take one of the above modes of transport. The first option being almost synonymous to suicide, I settled with the latter option. Living at the heart of such a crowded city in India, learning how to ride a bike seemed nothing but a luxury and a waste of time.

However, after I landed in Holland, I had an observation. Biking doesn’t feature as a culture of Holland like the windmills, wooden shoes or tulips do. It is just part of daily sustainable lifestyle. But what amazes me the most is that people possess one or more bikes like yet another inevitable material possession. The possessiveness is expressed at its height when the bike is broken or stolen. I remember that day, when I reminded a few of my friends that they still have the option to ‘walk’ to their destinations without any bikes! Hoping not to forget this option myself, one day, I still wish to learn biking and experience the fun. Lets go for it then!