The cycle has always been one of the most important modes of personal transport in India. Although the humble cycle has always been ignored and denied this status, it is true that majority of India’s poor rely completely on cycles to help them get around. These are people who knew nothing about the inflation, rising petrol and automobile prices that plague the world we live in. These are the hard working men and women of this country who have very little time or energy for anything outside work and take home between rupees 100 - 150 per day! They may be the strongest of the lot but they are also highly vulnerable to unreasonable price hikes on their primary means of transport. As a group they may be termed as highly price -sensitive and from February 2011 they have been adversely affected by price hikes on cycles due to the increase in prices of the raw materials. All they know, is that they can no longer afford what they used to as their salaries do not get reviewed every year at a budget session in parliament. The prices of steel and that of rubber have been on the increase right from late 2010 and this has been shunting the prices of cycles ever higher. In addition to the steel thats is used to make the tubing of the cycle, the prices of various other metals like nickel and zinc which are also very important in the cycle manufacture progress have also become more expensive. 80% of the 1.4 crore units in the Indian bicycle market are owned by farmers and daily wage labourers who can seldom have access to afford any other means of transport. Them cycling to work and back is the only thing that keeps their monthly budget on track and now they’ll have to think twice before purchasing that new cycle. For them, a cycle is not a luxury or a tool for fitness as it has come to be for many city dwellers; For them, It is an absolute necessity as they could only dream of owning a motorbike and fuelling it up from time to time, given the costs involved. This apathy shown by the Indian Finance ministry in not subsidizing the prices of cycles so that the common man can afford them is pathetic! More So in a country like India where 500 million people cannot even afford a cycle in the first place. This makes millions of lives very uncomfortable. Riding a cycle can increase your walking speed by four-fold with no additional energy being used. this means that an hour long walking journey could be finished within 15 minutes by pretty much anyone! This save people time, effort and also goes a really long way to maintaining the health and the local environment. The most beautiful thing about a cycle is that it is virtually noiseless and does not disturb animals or people as it goes past. Read More Home Loan Interest Rate