Social organisations urged to highlight benefits of cycling

Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh, June 3

On the occasion of World Bicycle Day today, environmentalists, including cycling enthusiasts of the region, called upon office-bearers and activists of social and medical organisations to launch a coordinated movement to spread awareness about the significance of pedaling in fighting the threat of Covid-19.

Rao Bahadur Singh, Bahadurgarh DSP and a randonneur, said: “Cycling, if adopted as an element of lifestyle outside our homes, can help in preventing the spread of Covid. Unlike travelling in cars or motorcycles, a cyclist maintains a sufficient distance from other human beings in his surroundings and is tempted to wash hands frequently.” He added that cycling enhanced immunity and lung power of the cyclist too.

Claiming that the sale of bicycles had increased manifold across the world during the lockdown amid Covid outbreak, he urged the Union Government to adopt Italy Model for motivating commuters to adopt bicycles as mode of transport, at least for short-distance travelling. “When a country like Italy can provide 60 per cent subsidy for purchasing quality-bicycles to its citizens, our country should also come forward to motivate motorists to adopt cycling as mode of routine travelling,” he said, adding that the cyclists should be respected in society too.

Rahul Maini, an industrialist and a cyclist from Chhapar Road area, said economic setback caused due to prolonged lockdown could be partially compensated by shifting from automobile to bicycle for local transportation.