INDIANS DISCOVER SLOW TRAVEL WITH CYCLING TOURS OF EUROPE

Of the many modes of transport that one can use while visiting Europe, from aircraft and trains to cars and buses, cycling is the least used but most immersive. But as the trend of slow travel picks up, an increasing number of tourists are turning to using bicycles, at least for some parts of their visits, notably in and around major urban agglomerations. Cycle tours are becoming popular with some Indian tourists as they discover the charm of cycling around Europe.

- Garima Sharma

When Shruti Vohra, an Associate Analyst, who works with United Airlines, an American carrier, at its office in Gurugram decided to visit Italy for her first trip there, due to the traffic congestion in Rome, she opted to discard other options of local travel and turned to two wheels, taking an electric scooter or trottinette, instead.

“Being a first-time traveller to Italy, riding on my electric scooter through the streets of Rome was an enriching experience for me. It allowed me to immerse myself entirely in the historical and cultural dimensions of the capital city. At every turn that I took, a slice of history and heritage revealed itself to me and weaving past the pedestrians and cars to reach the Colosseum, the iconic attraction in Rome, that feeling of rush and excitement grew stronger. Renting the scooter and losing myself in the lush green and picturesque landscape was also something I never thought I would do for my first ever solo trip to Italy,” Vohra tells India Outbound.

While Vohra had turned to an electric trottinette, many tourists, including a few Indians, are using bicycles for their exploration of the Old Continent. This growth has come primarily due to the better infrastructure for cycling that has been put in place across Europe, with most urban centres now boasting of dedicated cycling paths and easy pick-up and drop-off points for a variety of cycles present in most parts of cities all over Europe.

Traditionally, travel across Europe has meant taking to either rail, airline, buses or cars, either with or without chauffeurs. But with rising awareness about sustainability and as move to decongest at least the urban areas, most European nations have been promoting cycles as an alternative for moving around within cities. Tourists opt for cycle as a mode of transport as it also helps them to explore the narrow streets of Europe and experience its culture closely.