Enthusiasts pedal to mark World Bicycle Day
: Bicycling enthusiasts--men, women, and children--celebrated World Bicycle Day on Thursday by doing what most of them do almost every day--riding their cycles. They rode recreational rides -in groups, pairs, or solo to mark the day.
“The groups have been small this time too because of Covid, otherwise the cycling groups in Lucknow are quite large,” said Vishal Srivastava of Cyclopedia.
Riders of Pedalyatri, Cyclopedia, Lucknow Randonneurs, Pedal Pushers, Aero Activity Club, Paddling Souls and Rockriders observed the day by riding short or long distances.
Ob account of Covid safety protocols, none of the groups went beyond 25 members.
The theme for this year’s World Bicycle Day was ‘Uniqueness, versatility and longevity of bicycle as a simple, sustainable, economical, and reliable mode of transportation.’
“We rode in a very small group of close bicycle buddies. I love cycling as sports, recreation and mood enhancer.”, said Dr Mohammad Imran Khan, 39, a dentist by profession and a regular morning rider. Imran, for the past few weeks, has mixed cycling with helping the needy.
“Since the second wave of Covid intensified, every day I get some food cooked at home, prepare packets and then distribute them to needy street vendors or labourers along my riding route,” he said.
Aviral Sharma, an 11-yearold, initiated himself into longride and said: “This was the first long ride, and now I will
This was the first long ride, and now I will carry this on lifelong AVIRAL SHARMA, an 11year-old
carry this on lifelong”.
Shalini Pahwa, 45, an insurance manager, who rode with Cyclopedia, said: “Cycling brings one closer to nature, cuts pollution and induces positivity”
Naim Ansari, 74, a retired electricity board officer, said: “Cycling energies me”. Neeraj Prajapati, a 28-year-old engineer from Haryana, also known as bicycle man of Indian agriculture (for he criss-crosses India promoting organic and non-chemical farming) participated in the ride and shared his experience with the riders in Lucknow.
Cyclopedia group went from Indira Nagar to Indira Dam and back, Imran and his buddies went for a 100 km ride to Rae Bareli road and back and some others went to Chandrika Devi temple.