Cycles of change doing the rounds

If the well-known remark that socialism proceeds at the pace of a bicycle is anything to go by, growing pedal power seems to be propelling the world towards the socialist ideal, detours notwithstanding. Traffic congestion, pollution and dwindling reserves of fossil fuels have caused the velocipede to emerge as the vehicle of the future. Bicycles already outnumber cars by two to one in the world, with the developing countries accounting for most of the global fleet of over 800 million pedal bikes. The affluent nations are also climbing on to the two-wheeler, though as yet largely for recreation. Some futurologists, however, envisage a time when the cycle will be as common a feature of the urban landscape in the West as it has long been of Indian towns and cities.

The wheels of progress could turn full circle and bring back the bike, if as a glamorous transport of delight, like the goldplated model with mother-of-pearl handlebars and gem-studded spokes said to have been given by the American tycoon ‘Diamond Jim’ Brady to the actress Lillian Russell. Love of cycling has its limits, as suggested by the ditty of the would be groom who mooted this form of tandem conveyance to his bride-to-be, who replied, “To hell with your stylish marriage./If you can’t afford a carriage./ But I’ll be damned,/ if I’ll be crammed/ On a bicycle made for two!”