Hyderabad: An increasing number of IT employees are taking the “cycling to office” concept very seriously, sometimes riding 15 to 20 km everyday.

With IT companies extending cash incentives, priority parking and lunch coupons to increase the use of eco-friendly transportation, the number of people who regularly cycle to office in Cyberabad areas alone has touched 1,500.

The number of cycling enthusiasts (mainly professionals around the Cyberabad area) who are part of the Hyderabad Bicycling Club is over 6,000 in the city.

Most of them have their own bicycles and they either cycle to office or regularly meet on Sunday mornings and go for long rides.

The IT corridor meanwhile has a 2-km barricaded cycling track from the Biodiversity Park to the Raheja Mindspace junction.

There is also a bicycle station with 350 bicycles which are rented out on hourly and monthly basis to professionals working in the IT corridor.

“As many professionals stay in the vicinity of the bicycle station, they prefer to walk down to the station and then cycle to their workplaces.

The bikes are given out on rent for Rs 40 for four hours or Rs 900 for a month. For many who travel from their homes to offices, bicycling 15 to 20 km is a common phenomenon,” said D.V. Manohar, chairman of the Hyderabad Bicycling Club.

“Cycling had been a primary mode of transport for me in my childhood, and now, as part of the club, I go cycling regularly on Sunday mornings.

We have an enthusiastic group of cyclists riding to Medak forest areas, Shankarpally, Vikarabad, Ramoji Film City, Tellapur forest etc.

We carry spares and water as well as, and conduct the trips with a team leader and tail riders,” said Sanjeev Sharma, an IT systems manager and a member of the club.

Adding to rising endurance levels, cycling being a substitute for going to the gym and with many other health benefits, has attracted many.

Deepankar Joshi, a senior manager with an IT company, covers 20 km daily on his cycle to and from office. “I have been doing it since April this year.

I wanted to do my bit for the environment by going green. I am happy that I am not creating any traffic jam and I am also not worrying about traffic jams.

In fact, nowadays, even if I have to go anywhere in the city apart from my office, I prefer to go on my bicycle,” he said.

Abhinandan Malhotra, an associate consultant with Capgemini, started cycling to work five months ago. “I cycle 16 km daily. It is not only rejuvenating, but also helps in saving petrol, helping the environment and has numerous health benefits at the same time.

Earlier, I was not sure of being able to work efficiently after cycling to work, but it worked the other way round. I ended up feeling more active at work,” he said.

The Hyderabad Bicycling Club has more than 6,000 members. IT employees comprise a major chunk 25 per cent are women The club had held discussions with 50 IT companies, Cyberabad police and the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation officials, following which some companies agreed to provide provide priority parking and other incentives

A major chunk of the members work in the IT corridor and about 25 per cent of them are women.

The club, being instrumental in popularizing the “cycle to work” concept, had held a round of discussions with 50 IT companies, Cyberabad police and the TSIIC officials, following which few companies agreed to provide priority parking and other incentives.

Infosys also offered to give free lunch coupons to employees who commute to office on bicycle. Also, some companies offer cash incentives of Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 as well as bigger increments.