'Bicycle wincles and the need for Skills Enhancement'

Namiz Musafer

TRANSPORT: You may perhaps be surprised to note that on average every two households out of three own a bicycle in Sri Lanka. Although there are approximately 18,000 private buses on the main roads, the bicycle is the most common form of private transport.

It is estimated that there are nearly 3.2 million bicycles in Sri Lanka. The need to service these bicycles and expected future growth in the sector is essential.

Before Sri Lanka adopted an open economic policy in the late 1970s, the local bicycle industry was booming. However, today, only a handful of organisations are engaged in the business of manufacturing and assembling of bicycles. We should be proud of the local industrialists who contribute towards manufacturing, assembling of bicycles and producing components such as tyres, tubes and other accessories.

Despite flourishing expansions in the number of automobiles used for transporting people and goods, the use of the bicycle has not reduced. Many advantages have prompted the bicycle to retain its position as the leader of the private modes of transportation.

The bicycle, in general, can be considered as a versatile vehicle. In a different sense, it is in fact a miracle. There are so many benefits of using bicycles. The main form of its use is as a mode of short distance travel and transport.

In many instances, we come across bicycles having a trailer, goods carriage (commonly called luggage carrier), and modified versions to accommodate a box and refrigerator. The two wheeled bicycles thus are extended into three to four wheeled vehicles.

On the other hand, there are bicycle-based sports. The racing, standard and mountain bike sports competitions are in abundance, particularly during the April festive season. During the recently concluded South Asian Games, Sri Lankans won a couple of medals in the bicycling events.

Katugastota Road in Kandy is famous for reconditioned cars and vans while the Puttalam Road in Kurunegala is famous for motor bicycles. The Dam Street in Colombo is famous for bicycles and components. A recent trend is seen where used bicycles are imported from different developed nations. They are imported in bulk, in containers.

Most of these are the road bicycles with multi gears. The younger generation have been motivated to use this kind of bicycles both as a fashion and to meet their utility needs.

Both the reconditioned and imported (mainly from China) bicycles have drawn their attention. The ladies type (without the main bar) bicycle with a basket in front, sports bicycles with cable brakes and kiddies bicycles are on the verge of expansion in the local market.

The health sensitive urban crowd has made bicycling a hobby in order to keep their physique strong and to prevent ailments caused due to lack of physical exercises. In addition to this, some are tuned to bicycling as a recreational activity selecting some bicycle routes to ride along with companions.

There are cliques formed by those who bicycle on such routes regularly. The hotel industry is promoting bicycling to their guests as a value added service particularly as an adventure and exploration activity. The medical professionals have highlighted the benefits of bicycling encouraging more use of bicycles for different purposes.

In addition to the above, there are so many other benefits such as facilitating livelihoods of the people. It is so common to see fish, lotteries and bakery products being sold using bicycles, while those who are in other services like mail, milk and paper delivery too use the bicycles extensively.

Another category of use is for patrolling purposes, particularly by the Police. Officers engaged in community services such as Midwives, Grama Niladaris and other governmental extension service officers use bicycles to reach individual houses in their working areas.

It is common to see students using the bicycles to go to school. There are people who use it for workplaces. Some use the bicycle as an intermediate mode of transport where they park their bicycles near a railway or a bus station bicycling from home. In the remote areas, due to poor conditions of roads, no other mode of transport is available except for the bicycle for medium distance travel.

As we know, the bicycle is an environmental friendly mode of transport. The escalating prices of petroleum have little influence over the cost of using bicycles. The foreign exchange is saved while the harm created to the environment is minimum when bicycles are used. From the perspective of the road use, the space required for running and parking is less for the bicycles.

The wear and tear of the roads is less so that the maintenance cost is far below that for other vehicles. The local government institutions, who licence the bicycles, could also gain a considerable income from the bicycles from licensing fees.

In general, if the cost of the licence for a year is Rs 50/-, the total revenue that could be generated would be in the range of Rs 450,000/- (Rs 50/- X 3.2 million / approximately 350 Local Government Institutions) on average per year for the individual local government body, which is considerable revenue for a remote Pradeshiya Saba.

Registering the bicycle is beneficial to the users so that thefts could be reduced. In addition, small amounts of revenue could be charged for parking the bicycles at public parking lots, which is another additional benefit to both parties.

One of the best advantages of the bicycle is its flexibility. At any time, owners can take their bicycles out of home and ride without wasting time waiting for the delayed or irregular public transport services.

Even in the nights, the bicycle is available and it is virtually at very negligible operational costs. This being a family vehicle, the ability to interact with the natural and social environment while riding is another significant benefit of bicycling not found in other modes of transport.

The use of bicycles has negative consequences too. The safety of the bicyclists is a prominent problem as they are more vulnerable to road accidents due to a range of reasons. Further, the lack or absence of required infrastructure facilities and the social stigma against them discourage bicycling.

We, as a nation need to address the weaknesses and capitalise on the benefits of bicycles if we want to prosper and look towards self sustainability with lesser reliance on imports. Draining of outward remittance of our valuable foreign exchange is a serious problem we have been confronting ever since colonisation.

One of the significant drawbacks that hinder faster growth of use of bicycles is the technical aspects. There needs to be well trained mechanics and technicians complemented with the required tools, spare parts, accessories and components.

In order for these services to be sustainable, they should generate a comparable income from delivery of their services. On the other hand, lack of properly trained and skilled personnel discourage people to use the bicycle as in the case of a technical failure of the bicycle in use, they may have to push or carry the bicycles to the closest Technical Assistance Point (TAPs : Wincle as popularly known in Sri Lanka).

It is estimated that there are over 3,500 Bicycle TAPs in operation, which is about I TAP for 1,000 bicycles as a proportion on average.

Like any other industry, the bicycle industry too develops at a faster rate. The demands of the consumers reflect their life pattern. For example, people prefer lightweight foldable bicycles so that they could carry them conveniently wherever they go. One intervention which meets such a requirement is a foldable push bicycle that weighs only 5.5 kg and could be packed in less than 1/2 a minute into a package of 0.03 m3 in volume.

User demand requires the delivering of services within a short time without keeping the bicycle for hours or days. Since the bicycles are available from Rs. 5,000 to even over Rs 200,000, the upper markets are highly concerned about the services rendered by the Bicycle TAPs, requiring the service providers to have the right skills with the right tools and equipment.

Currently, there are good dealer and distribution networks of bicycles and components in Sri Lanka, while also having relevant trade associations promoting common commercial interests. There is the Bicycle Federation which have its affiliated bodies, bicycling associations and bicycling clubs. There are bicycle users societies in workplaces and schools.

For mountain bicycling, there are associations at the national and international level operating in Sri Lanka. These mutual & common interest groups and networks are encouraging the use of bicycles in Sri Lanka. However, one gap that exists is in the training of bicycle mechanics and technicians.

Vocational and Technical Education institutions had once taken steps to introduce bicycle mechanics courses for their students. However, the response that had been received from the new students to follow such courses has been discouraging.

Accordingly, the courses have been abandoned. Lack of employment opportunities in the formal sector and the social stigma associated with the current TAPs may have been the main reason for this situation.