A bicycle is widely accepted as a green alternative to petrol-powered automobiles for one’s daily commute to work. It is cost-effective, easy to use, and contributes to the growth of healthy cities and healthy people. But according to a famous banker, it may also lead to the downfall of the world’s economy.
Bicycles May Be Fatal
An excerpt from the words of banker and CEO of Euro Exim Bank Ltd. Emeric Sillo has been doing the rounds on social media platforms. He famously declared, “Bicycle is the slow death of the planet”. This offered food for thought to economists who debated the accountability of this interesting proposition.
Sillo claimed that cyclists are potential time-bombs for the national economy. He advanced the reasons as such that they do not buy cars, borrow money to buy vehicles, pay insurance, or buy fuel. Since they do not own cars, repairs are not needed, and the chances of major accidents on multi-lane highways are drastically reduced.
He also argued that cyclists usually do not suffer from obesity. His point is that those healthy cyclists do not support the economy as such as they do not require medicine or the help of medical practitioners. Hence they are not beneficial for a country’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product).
Read More: The Story Of A Bicycle: Picture Story
On the other hand, he defends the presence and popularity of fast-food joints. “On the contrary, each new McDonald’s store creates at least 30 jobs – actually 10 cardiologists, 10 dentists, 10 dietitians, and nutritionists – obviously as well as the people who work in the store itself.”
Thus he draws out an indirect advantage of the unhealthy eating habits of people-which has elicited a lot of criticism on social media.
Maybe Not Fatal (At All)
These bold statements by Sillo have triggered off a series of counterarguments on the internet. For example, Bill Moore wrote at EV World, “his value system is so warped by the current milieu of GDP and infinite economic growth that he can’t see how myopic his view is, one where even a war every so often is good for the economy”.
Other reactions have also surfaced stating the invalid nature of Sillo’s claims, as even cycling involves expenses of bikes, bike parts, oil, cleaning products, tyres, inner tubes, and servicing. It has also been described as a “capitalist realism” narrative that advocates the protection of the economy even at the cost of people’s health and happiness.
Bicycles have also been supported as effective solutions for air pollution, a major cause of which is vehicular exhaust. Environmentalists have found that replacing a car with a bike each time one goes to work reduces 3,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions every year.
Amsterdam is famous for having more bicycles than people (880,000 bikes as against 811,000 citizens). Recently, Chipata city in Zambia has been nicknamed ‘Amsterdam’ as the bicycle is the main mode of transportation there.
Disclaimer: This article is fact-checked
Sources: Biofriendly Planet, Singletrack World, EV World
Image sources: Google Images
Feature Image designed by Saudamini Seth
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This post is tagged under: cycling, cycling tracks in India, is cycling good for health, Why should you indulge in cycling, world cycling day, bicycle, bicycle sharing service, bicycles, surge in bicycle commuters, world bicycle day, motorization of bicycle, bicycle is the death of the planet, Economic Crisis, economic crash, air pollution, air pollution and cars, cars causing air pollution, Old vehicles increase air pollution
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