An MMRCL spokesperson said that Aqua Line was built expecting a large volume of passengers so, cycles are not allowed on the Metro Line 3. (Express photos)Architect Pranav Naik had been taking his foldable bicycle on the underground Metro Line 3 for a year, using it to shuttle between his office in Mahim and project site in Fort. Folding it in half, he had used the arrangement on local trains, BEST buses, and metros in other Indian cities to reduce his reliance on private vehicles.But last week, he was told cycles, folding or otherwise, are not allowed in the underground Aqua Line.“I was stopped out of the blue, despite having taken the cycle countless times before it. Guards and the officials of the metro told me that a new rule meant I couldn’t take my cycle in,” said Naik, who is the cofounder of Studio Pomergrante. “While they eventually let me, they didn’t have any explanation as to why it isn’t allowed, if other similarly sized bags and wheelchairs are allowed.”The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) has confirmed that commuters cannot bring cycles, folded or packed, into the Aqua Line. It said, “As per the prevailing security guidelines, bicycles, including foldable bicycles in folded or packed condition, are not permitted on Mumbai Metro Line 3 (Aqua Line) premises or trains.”The rule is not new, as an MMRCL spokesperson said the Metro line was built expecting a large volume of passengers. It, however, hasn’t delivered, as Line 3 lags in ridership.Naik has travelled on the city’s other metro lines and local trains, but never faced any objections. Folding his cycle in half, architect Naik said he has used the arrangement on local trains, and BEST buses (Express photo)Switching to rickshaws and taxis from metro stations often requires a lot of waiting and haggling over costs, topped by reduced frequency of BEST buses and rickshaws and taxis refusing to ply by meter.Story continues below this adFiroza Dadan, Mumbai’s first bicycle mayor, said, “A folding bicycle is a practical solution for first and last mile problems. Otherwise, you’re increasing the dependency on shared mobility, like rickshaws, taxis, cab-hailing apps. If the authorities are saying they’re working towards sustainable public transport in the city, why are they skipping out on this one piece that could help?”“Restricting folding bicycles on the Aqua Line dilutes the core purpose of building a multi-modal transport system. For a modern infrastructure like Line 3 to succeed in promoting green commuting, MMRCL must integrate folding bikes into its transit policy and align with other metro lines in the city,” said Vijay Malhotra, Cycling Blogger & Founder of Pedal and Tring Tring.Sabah Virani is a journalist with The Indian Express’ Mumbai bureau, covering infrastructure, housing and urban issues. In the realms of technical fields, she brings out human stories and the pace of change ongoing in the city. Expertise Specialised Role: Tracking infrastructure in Mumbai and the wider Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), Sabah’s reporting tracks progress on various projects. From bridges to metros, she mixes technical details with resourceful information. Core coverage areas: Sabah keeps a close eye on the activities of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and its projects across the MMR, including the metros, road projects, bridges, the bullet train, pod taxi, its role as a planning authority, and more. She also watches for developments from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO) and the GoM’s Urban Development department. Housing: Sabah also tracks developments in housing, particularly the workings of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA). She also keeps a keen watch on the big redevelopment projects ongoing in Mumbai, including the Dharavi Redevelopment Project, Motilal Nagar, Kamathipura, BDD Chawl redevelopment, among others. Occasionally, she reports on the environment, biodiversity, waste, arts and culture. Experience: Prior to working for the Indian Express, Sabah covered the municipality, civic issues and miscellaneous for Hindustan Times. Before that, she covered all things Mumbai for the online publication Citizen Matters. She has also worked as an editorial assistant at FiftyTwo.in. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on InstagramTags:Maharashtra