Modes of transport | Why we are a two-wheeler nation

Because they offer freedom and flexibility. But the overwhelming reliance on two-wheelers for daily commutes is a reflection of the gaps in our public transport and poor urban planning(Photo: AFP)ISSUE DATE: Nov 16, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 19:29 IST For five years, Mohit Kashyap, now 30, would cycle seven kilometres from his home in Chirag Dilli to Sundar Nagar, where he worked as a gardener. The journey would take him 45 minutes. Then came marriage and a Honda Activa scooter as a wedding gift, which reduced his commute by 25 minutes. Of course, he could also take Bus No. 419, which would get him close to his place of work in 15 minutes. Yet he rarely takes it. “Seat nahin milti. Kabhi late bhi ho jaata hai (I can’t find a seat. Sometimes, it’s late too),” he says.