Pedalling Happiness

In the last few years, many people in the city have embraced cycling, and Arshel Akhter, the Bicycle Mayor of Guwahati, is hoping the numbers will grow

Nowadays, it is difficult to commute in Guwahati without getting stuck in traffic. Office workers have to leave their homes earlier than usual just to be able to punch in at office on time. This is one of the reasons why more and more people are embracing cycling, but it is not the biggest reason, which is the need for a greener way to commute. With pollution levels rising, environment conscious citizens are reaching for their cycles instead of their bikes or cars to help ease their carbon footprint. But is Guwahati ready for cyclists? We speak to Arshel Akhter, the Bicycle Mayor of Guwahati, to knows more about his cycling journey and his thoughts on whether the city is bicycle friendly.

Pedal for a Change

Born and brought up in Guwahati, Akhter would use his cycle quite often when he was studying. ‘But the habit went away after I started my professional journey and stayed in different cities. In 2016, I took up cycling again as a way to primarily explore nearby places and meet new people. Later, while studying more about the different aspects of cycling, I decided to start a Facebook group, in October 2017, where I would share information and named it ‘Pedal for a Change’. One thing led to another, and soon I found myself organising small rides and rallies with likeminded people.’ He started getting invitations to share his experiences in schools and colleges. While speaking to people about the benefits of cycling, he realized that ‘Pedal for a Change’ was ready for the next step. ‘In April of 2019, I along with Pratibhu Dutta and Bikash Doley decided to form an NGO under the name - Pedal for a Change.’