India, June 3 -- On World Bicycle Day today, actor and endurance athlete Saiyami Kher says cycling has shaped her life far beyond fitness, teaching her patience, resilience and independence. "Cycling for me as a child was going to school and back with my school friends. Cycling gave me freedom before it gave me fitness," says Kher. A solo cycling trip from Germany to Prague nearly a decade ago transformed a childhood pastime into a serious passion. "Cycling teaches patience in a world that wants everything instantly. You can't cheat a climb. You can't rush endurance. You just keep pedalling," the 33-year-old says. While awareness around cycling has grown in India, Kher believes infrastructure remains a major challenge. "Most cyclists in Indian cities still ride defensively because roads aren't designed with them in mind," she says, calling for "usable, connected and broad lanes" instead of "symbolic lanes". The concern is personal. "I've had two very bad falls. One because of a pothole, and another when a car just randomly stopped. It only takes one second of recklessness for things to go horribly wrong," she says. Kher also wants cycling to be seen as a practical mode of transport, not just a sport or fitness activity. For beginners, her advice is simple: "You don't need the fanciest bike. The goal is to build consistency and joy. Every strong cyclist was once somebody wobbling nervously on a first ride."...