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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=4 color=black face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black;font-weight:bold'>India's
techies take to cycling <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span class=byl1><b><font size=1 color="#666666"
face=Verdana><!-- S BO --><!-- S IBYL --><span style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana'>By Sumana Mukherjee </span></font></b></span><font
size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:black'><br>
</span></font><span class=byd1><font size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'>Bangalore </span></font></span><font
size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'><img width=66
height=1 id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.gif@01C83BE5.3B3863C0" border=0><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><!-- S IIMA --><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><!-- E IBYL --><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'><img width=203
height=152 id="_x0000_i1026" src="cid:image002.jpg@01C83BE5.3B3863C0"
alt="Bikers in Bangalore" border=0><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 color="#666666" face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#666666'>Cyclists are now
demanding separate lanes on the roads <i><span style='font-style:italic'>Pic
courtesy: Mint<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></font></p>
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<p><b><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black;font-weight:bold'><!-- E IIMA -->When GV
Dasarathi pulls up his bicycle at a traffic intersection on his way to work
in India's InfoTech city, Bangalore, heads turn.</span></font></b><font
size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black'>Bicycles may be the most popular two-wheeler
on India's roads, but the millions who use them to commute and to transport
goods and family in India's towns and villages certainly don't wear white
helmets, fluorescent jackets or biking gloves. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black'>Through his attire and vehicle of choice, Mr
Dasarathi, 48 and director of a software products development company, makes
a potent statement for an alternative mode of daily transport in the choked
roads of India's Silicon Valley. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black'>Cycling to work makes more and more sense
for the city's well-heeled professionals - nearly three million vehicles clog
500km (300 miles) of Bangalore's gridlocked roads, with 1,000 new vehicles
added every day. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><!-- S IBOX --><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span
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height=1 id="_x0000_i1027" src="cid:image003.gif@01C83BE5.3B3863C0"
border=0><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'><img width=24
height=13 id="_x0000_i1028" src="cid:image004.gif@01C83BE5.3B3863C0"
border=0><b><span style='font-weight:bold'>The bike ride to and from the
office works both as exercise and as commute</span></b> </span></font><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
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<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'>Systems architect
Pramod Kumar<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black'><!-- E IBOX -->This also make it one of
India's most polluted cities; in some areas, air pollution levels are five
times higher than permissible limits. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black'>Concerns over traffic conditions and the
environment, combined with the sedentary lifestyles peculiar to the software
sector, have all combined to promote cycling to work in Bangalore. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black'>Indian society equates prosperity with
bigger vehicles and cycling with the poor. Cyclists are offered no facilities
whatsoever in the shape of cycle lanes or bike parks. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black'>But it is no longer unusual to see sweaty
techies pedalling to work, laptops in backpacks or carriers, and heading
straight for the shower and a change of clothes once they reach the office. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><b><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black;font-weight:bold'>'Best exercise'</span></font></b><font
size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black'>"It's been about six months since I
have been biking seriously," says Pramod Kumar, 27, a systems architect
at Varista Technologies, who has inspired five of his colleagues to take to
biking as well. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black'>"My work day is hectic and I have no
time to go jogging as I used to. So the 1/2km bike ride to and from the
office works both as exercise and as commute." <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><!-- S IIMA --><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'><img width=203
height=152 id="_x0000_i1029" src="cid:image006.jpg@01C83BE5.3B3863C0"
alt="Bangalore pothole" border=0><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 color="#666666" face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#666666'>It is not easy to
cycle on Bangalore's roads<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black'><!-- E IIMA -->Software developer A Lakshman
also took to commuting to work on his Trek 3700 bicycle in an attempt to lose
some of the 91kg on his 5'10" frame. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black'>"Because of my 9am-9.30pm timings at
work, I thought this would be the best exercise for me, since work is 15.5km
away from home," says the 23-year-old. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black'>"The morning rides, especially, were
very pleasant. Unfortunately, since I am prone to wheezing, I found the
evening pollution levels too high to continue biking." <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black'>For long-time Bangaloreans, who have seen
the city morph from a pensioner's paradise to a model of urban chaos, these
changes are drastic enough to force action. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black'>Five years ago, Mr Dasarathi went back to
cycling at the urging of a friend campaigning for better air quality and
encouraged colleagues to follow suit. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black'>Today, he leads Go Cycle, an umbrella
organisation of biking enthusiasts and activists, which is looking to lobby
corporate sponsors and the local government for amenities for urban cyclists.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black'>"Initially, I used to bike from home to
the local gym or run errands. After a few months, I began taking the bike to
work, maybe a couple of days a week. Then, I began to dread those days when
carry-home files or client meetings forced me to use the car," Mr
Dasarathi says. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><b><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black;font-weight:bold'>'Addiction'</span></font></b><font
size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black'>"Now it's an addiction. I use my Ford
Fusion car perhaps once in 10 days. I prefer to cycle the 15km distance
between home and office twice a day." <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black'>His experience has convinced him that
bicycles and a cohesive Mass Rapid Transport System - construction has just
begun on an underground railway system in the city and is expected to take up
to four years - may be the beleaguered city's last hope. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><!-- S IIMA --><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'><img width=203
height=152 id="_x0000_i1030" src="cid:image007.jpg@01C83BE5.3B3863C0"
alt="Cyclists in Bangalore" border=0><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 color="#666666" face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#666666'>Bikes are good
for health and the environment, cyclists say. <i><span style='font-style:
italic'>Pic courtesy: Mint</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black'><!-- E IIMA -->In a recent issue of the
Janaagraha Times citizens' newsletter, he says: "Bangalore has hordes of
people who cycle because of economic reasons, but these people are never
considered when planning roads, flyovers and underpasses. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black'>"Cycling is the most eco-friendly mode
of transport in the world but we in India are still stuck in the developing
country syndrome. Instead of encouraging them, we actively discourage
them." <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black'>To that end, Go Cycle is working to convince
businesses in Jayanagar, a locality with broad, tree-lined roads, and the
Central Business District - including the arterial MG Road and Commercial
Street - to turn over unused space for the use of cycle parking. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black'>Prem Koshy, owner of a landmark city-centre
restaurant named after his family, has already agreed. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black'>The group also hopes to bring pressure on
city planners to start building cycle lanes and separate traffic signals in
new parts of the city, as well as to co-ordinate cycle-use with the metro. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black'>It's uphill work - but then, so is cycling
in an undulating city like Bangalore.<!-- E BO --> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>-----Original Message-----<br>
From: bostoncriticalmass-bounces@bostoncriticalmass.org
[mailto:bostoncriticalmass-bounces@bostoncriticalmass.org] On Behalf Of Jeremy
Chase<br>
Sent: Saturday, December 08, 2007 6:30 PM<br>
To: Boston Critical Mass<br>
Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Site moved</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Test..<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>cars are dumb<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>test<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Jer<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>On Dec 8, 2007 4:42 PM, Adam Rosi-Kessel <adam@rosi-kessel.org>
wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> I just moved bostoncriticalmass.org and all associated content<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> (including this mail list) to a new server. I'm sending this note
to<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> make sure everything still works. (Please let me know if you
notice any<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> oddities with the website or mail list.)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> _______________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> Boston Critical Mass mailing list<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> list@bostoncriticalmass.org<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe@bostoncriticalmass.org<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>_______________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Boston Critical Mass mailing list<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>list@bostoncriticalmass.org<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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