KATHMANDU, May 1: Pushkar Shah, a world cyclist from Nepal, was denied entry into the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) office in Basundhara, Kathmandu, because he arrived on a bicycle. Shah took to his social media post to share that he was stopped at the gate and informed that bicycles were not allowed inside the Ghanti Ghar! 

Shah, who had been invited by the party’s Vice Chairman Aryal for tea, arrived at the party office soaked and in an old coat. Despite his initial determination to meet the Vice Chairman, Shah was ultimately turned away and returned home with his coat still wet.

"Vice Chairman Aryal had invited me for tea in the morning. I had to meet him, so I wore my old coat and reached Ghanti Ghar in Basundhara in the spitting rain. The security guard there said that bicycles were not allowed inside the Ghanti Ghar,” he wrote, “Seeing the door open, I entered with my bicycle. Motorcycles were allowed inside. So I asked about that. The security guard there said that motorcycles and cars were allowed.”

In a country where cycling is a popular mode of transportation and environmental conservation is a pressing issue, the incident has raised questions about the party's policies towards sustainability and accessibility. Shah's experience highlights the challenges faced by cyclists in a world where cars and motorcycles are given preferential treatment.

 
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