It was a cool evening in Karachi, the city’s last round of winter spell. Just the kind of weather when adventurous pursuits could be put to test. It was perfect timing, I’d say when Shah Talha Sohail comes to me with an open invitation to test out a bike. May I add, that it’s no ordinary two-wheeler, but rather the first of its kind to be introduced in Pakistan; an electric bike.
Shah, as I call him, is the Co-Founder and COO at Trademor, at present virtually invested with his engineering startup Mode Mobility – a company dedicated to manufacturing sustainable mobility solutions for all. Their product? Battery-operated bikes! How cool.
Testing Day 1v1
The next day, my colleague Ayesha and I found ourselves at the Mode Mobility garage. We make up two very ‘different’ subjects to test out the bike. Precisely, to check out how well-adapted the bike’s ergonomics are to female riders like us. The subjects in question (Ayesha and I) are distinct in the sense that Ayesha is 5”, dressed in a full-length kameez and fancy flats. I am 5”4, wearing jeans and a shirt on platform joggers. Another important behavioral distinction was that Ayesha rides a bicycle quite often and I rode one many many years ago.
“So where is it?” we ask. Right on cue, Mr. Najiullah Hussain exits the garage, pulling a black scooter out with him. We couldn’t hold back our mini-screams of childish delight. It was a beauty. All black with swigs of bright yellow paint, sleek modern design, wide handles, and big motorcycle wheels. In my head, I already pictured myself virtually riding it to and fro from the office.
“Anyone who knows how to ride a bicycle, can easily ride this one,” said Shah.
Ayesha was the first one to get a mini training. And here is how it went.
Shah and Naji give Ayesha a rundown on how the breaks and accelerator work.
Safety first! Strap on the protective mode helmet.
And off she goes! Making mobility look like a breeze.
Ayesha calls her first experience riding a battery-operated bike like this “quite exhilarating.”
“Once I sat on the bike, the biggest challenge was not being able to reach the footrest since I am short. But as I maneuvered on, my posture adjusted effortlessly and it all seemed really easy. I was wearing a long kameez which is actually a hazard if you’re riding a bicycle, but the ergonomics of this Mode Mobility bike are such that you could be wearing anything and it will not hinder your ride, like even a skirt! I also found the bike a bit heavy but like I said, once you get on it and begin to ride it all goes smooth. Riding this felt very natural and comes as naturally to you as riding a bicycle.”
It took a lot of convincing to make Ayesha get off the bike because she simply didn’t want to!
Finally, when it was my turn to ride I found the experience both educating and challenging. I am free-spirited but not very outdoorsy. Having said that I had not ridden a bicycle in the longest time which is a key point in learning how to balance an electric bike like this.
When I first mounted the bike I was intimidated by the heavy handlebars but the excellent ergonomics of the bike almost speak to you to get comfy and not fear it. This is what makes the bike an excellent choice for women riders too. However, I learned that in order to perfect my balance on this scooter, I need to go back to the basics: the bicycle. But anyone who has ridden a bicycle exhaustively can make a sweet ride out of this Mode C, that’s for sure.
What powers C-Series?
It is powered by a chargeable battery, which once fully charged can offer up to 65km of travel non-stop.
Riding Mode Mobility threw me into introspection on how we all spend a big chunk of our lives in transit. Commute, for me in particular, takes up a lot of my time, as my college/school and all my workplaces were coincidentally far from my home. And I know so many women can relate to this.
In times like this, where every element of our lives needs to be faced-paced in order to really catch up with the ever-flowing trajectories of our lives, distinct mobility solutions like these provided by Mode Mobility are commendable. The future is sustainability and Mode is here to stay.
Want to know more about Mode? Register your interest here.
