The 15% import tax on bicycles has been waived off to encourage more riders in the country
Take an evening walk along the BBS tower and Kuensel Phodrang (Buddha Point) roads, you will find men on bicycles. Donning colourful helmets, tight shorts and dark glasses and looking macho, they are setting in a trend.
This is not like the Hero bicycle story – the first cycles in Bhutan – that army men rode to work. Popular in the southern belt, the sight was fascinating for children.
Earlier this year, Bhutan received 350 cycles from a Buddhist group in Tokyo, Japan, when Lyonchen Jigmi Y Thinley was there to deliver a talk on gross national happiness.
Later, at a press meet here, Lyonchen said that Thimphu would be made into a bicycle friendly city.
Tagging along with the vision that he has, many people have taken interest in riding bicycles.
Though many of the cycling enthusiasts do not ride to office, they have formed groups to go riding on weekends.
The proprietor of Yudruk tours and travels, Rinzi Ongdra Wangchuk said, “I have organised an Every Sunday Ride Group, and we meet at 10:30 on Sunday mornings and ride bicycles.”
The ride started almost two months back and anyone interested to ride can join them. The routes are pre-planned and decided on that particular day.
Rinzi Ongdra Wangchuk also deals in bicycles, and according to him, in recent years the number of riders has increased drastically.
He said, “After Lyonchen received the bicycles people became more enthusiastic and forthcoming to ride.”
You may find bike stands already placed near the Clock Tower and Swiss Bakery.
A normal trek bicycle, with low components and grate may cost around Nu 12,000. Better brands can go upto Nu100, 000.
Few brands that are in the market are the GT outpost, Giant, Gary Fisher, Cannon Dale, Scott and Rocky Mountain which are popular among the Bhutanese riders.
Kinga Wangchuk, a bike technician and a tour guide said that “the frenzy for bikes started off with His Majesty taking up an interest in riding.”
According to him the most popular places to ride in Thimphu are Tango Cheri, BBS tower, Kunsel Phodrang and Dochula.
“Many girls come to jog in the evening toward the BBS tower road expecting to see His Majesty riding his bicycle”, Kinga Wangchuk said with a smile.
Now that the tax on the bicycles has been lifted, many individuals would be able to import bicycles without having to pay the tax.
Earlier, the import tax on the bicycles was 15% which has been waived off to encourage more riders in the country.
“The tax will not make much of a difference to us,” said the proprietor of Yudruk tours and travels.
But what worries him was the controversial tax on the helmet which still remains at 40%.
According to him it is a life saving device and the tax on the helmet should also be waived off.
A good low-cost bicycle helmet costs around 3,000. But it can go upto 30,000.
Oppostiton Leader Tshering Tobgay is a pioneer in gathering other cycling enthusiasts for the Sunday bicycling team.
He tweets from his mobile phone while on bicycle rides. Here is a recent one: “Note to self: monsoons are here. Carry raincoat when cycling!”
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