When stuck at a traffic signal, the comfort of sitting inside an air-conditioned car pales at the sight of a biker vrooming past you. And while finding parking space for a four-wheeler is an ordeal in Mumbai, all a scooter needs is a gap between two sedans. But convenience isn’t its only virtue. For, should you decide to turn tourist in the city, nothing lets you explore it like a ride on a two-wheeler does. It’s no wonder then that tour companies in Mumbai are drawing up itineraries suited for bicycles — this explains files of cyclists from Marine Drive to Worli Sea Face on Saturday nights — and now, motorbikes and scooters.

Prateek Deo, founder of Life Away From Life, tells us how when he started the adventure travel company in 2000, the idea of exploring Mumbai and its outskirts on a motorbike didn’t quite take off. "But with social media, we are able to reach potential tourists across India, who are increasingly interested in seeing Mumbai on two wheels," he shares. Last year, Deo started including bike tours of and around the city. He now has six itineraries that give a glimpse into the myriad facets of Mumbai. The trip coming up this Saturday is a ride to the hills of Mahabaleshwar. You needn’t know how to ride a two-wheeler; you can be on the pillion with a biker-cum-guide.