READING ON THE MOVE: FROM TRAINS TO TWO-WHEELERS!

   

 

For a book lover, travelling often means one wonderful thing: extra reading time!

A train journey? Perfect.
A flight? Absolutely.
A long wait at the airport? Even better—open the book!

But recently, a thought crossed my mind. We are often advised to take care of our eyes while reading. Consider the optimal light, comfortable posture, proper distance from the book, and readable font size. Most importantly: don't strain your eyes.

Fair enough.

With all these precautions in mind, reading while travelling can be quite enjoyable. But then, my imagination started travelling faster than the vehicle itself!

Train reading — Approved!

The rhythmic sound of the train, a window seat, a cup of coffee, and a good book—what more does a reader need? Of course, provided the person sitting next to you does not want to discuss the entire history of their family!

Flight reading — Highly recommended!

Once the seatbelt sign goes off, out comes the book. A few chapters before landing, and suddenly the announcement says, “We have begun our descent.”

Wait! What happened to the rest of the book?

Bus reading — Proceed with caution!

Now things become interesting.

One minute you are reading:

“She looked into his eyes…”

The next minute the bus hits a pothole and you are reading:

“She looked into the sky, the road, the neighbouring village and perhaps another chapter altogether!”

Reading in a moving bus requires excellent concentration, strong hands, and the ability to locate where you left off every time the vehicle jumps.

Auto reading — A new adventure genre!

Can you imagine reading in an auto-rickshaw?

The book moves.
You move.
The auto moves.
The traffic moves—or sometimes doesn't.

At every speed breaker, the story gets its own plot twist.

Perhaps this should be called interactive reading. The road itself contributes to the narrative!

Reading as a scooter pillion — Is it possible?

Now comes my favourite question.

Can a person sitting as a pillion on a scooter peacefully read a book?

Technically, perhaps.

Practically? I have serious doubts!

Imagine this:

One hand holds the book.
The other hand holds… what exactly? The book? The scooter? Your balance? Your life?

The wind turns the pages before you can read them. You begin Chapter One and suddenly find yourself in Chapter Seven—not because the story moved fast, but because the breeze did!

And what about stopping at a traffic signal?

You read three lines.

Green signal!

Book closed.

Thirty seconds later, another signal.

Book opened.

Perhaps scooter-pillion reading is ideal only for people who enjoy micro-reading!

Cycle reading — Please don't try this!

A cycle demands balance, attention and both hands—preferably on the handlebars.

Unless, of course, you have invented a revolutionary hands-free book holder, voice-controlled page-turning device, and a completely traffic-free road, this category should remain firmly in the realm of imagination.

Because no book, however gripping, is worth becoming a headline:

“Reader So Absorbed in Thriller That He Forgot He Was Cycling!”

The Verdict

For book lovers, every journey looks like a potential reading opportunity. We carry books in handbags, backpacks, and sometimes even hold one under our arm just in case an unexpected ten minutes of free time appears.

But perhaps we must accept that not every mode of transport is designed for reading.

Trains? Yes.
Flights? Certainly.
Waiting rooms? Wonderful.
Buses? Maybe, depending on the roads.
Autos? Only for the adventurous.
Scooter pillion? A hilarious thought!
Cycling while reading? Absolutely not!

So, fellow readers, I leave you with a fun question:

Have you ever tried reading while travelling in an unusual vehicle or situation?

And more importantly—

Can anyone honestly claim to have successfully finished even one chapter while sitting as a pillion on a scooter?

If yes, I would love to meet that reader. They clearly possess a level of concentration that deserves its own literary award!

 

A Perfect Literary Ending

As Emily Dickinson beautifully wrote:

“To travel far, there is no better ship than a book.”

And perhaps she was right. A book can take us across oceans, into unfamiliar lands, through centuries, and even into imaginary worlds—all without asking us to fasten a seat belt!

So whether we read on a train, a flight, or comfortably at home, books remain our most dependable travelling companions. But when it comes to reading on an auto, as a pillion on a scooter, or—heaven forbid—while cycling, perhaps it is wiser to let the vehicle do the travelling and the book wait patiently until we stop!

After all, a book may be the best vehicle for travel—but not every vehicle is the best place for reading!