Two middle-aged men drag their bicycles on the slope leading up to Koteshwor, Kathmandu this evening. In these times of “environmental consciousness” I can safely assume that they are not trying to make any statements like “we are toiling because we care for our environment” and “we prefer cycling because we dislike traveling in vehicles that consume fossil fuel”.

Motorbikes are the most preferred form of transportation in the city for those who can afford them (and those who can’t afford a car). I don’t think people put their concern for environment before their desire to travel comfortably. Bicycling could be fun (or even fashionable) during the bandas in Kathmandu but this city is not bicycle-friendly. Not just because there are no separate lanes for bicycle on roads. There are far too many slopes in the city which means bicyclists have to get off their cycles and drag them, like in the photo above, every kilometer or two.

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