Cycle your way to a pollution-free city

Three local NGOs — JAAG, Hariyali Foundation, Andhashraddha Nirmulan
Samiti — along with Adventure Holiday, an association that organises
adventure holidays, have formed Cycle Foundation, which aims at
promoting the use of cycle as a mode of transport. The organisation
was formed on June 4 and already has 40 members.

Vandana Shinde, the president of NGO Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti’s
Thane cell and one of the founder members of the organisation, says
it’s high time that people start using petrol-free modes of transport.

“Considering the increasing number of vehicles in the city and various
pollution problems caused because of them, we think it is a noble idea
to promote the use of the bicycle,” says this Naupada resident, who is
now learning to ride a cycle.

Chandan Thakur from the Teen Petrol Pump-based Adventure Holiday says,
“Members of our group are already involved in activities like
travelling across the country on bicycles; in fact some of us have
taken it up professionally. We decided to join hands with the NGOs to
promote cycling as it will be working for an environmental cause.”
Three members from the association are already part of the group.

Though the primary motive of the Foundation is to reduce pollution, it
also aims at easing traffic and parking problems. “If more vehicles
are off the roads, it will improve the traffic situation. Also, using
the cycle has another benefit — it provides a good exercise for the
body,” adds Shinde.

Members of the newly-formed group don’t think the idea is far-fetched.
“A lot of planning has gone into this exercise. We will organise
rallies, exhibition and lectures to create awareness about the
benefits of using bicycles,” claims Dr Narendra Jawale, a member of
Hariyali.

“The TMC recently built a jogging track at Wagle Estate. We plan to
propose to the TMC to build more such cycling tracks in the city,” he
explains.

Interested residents can join the group, says Sanjay Gopal, a member
of JAAG. “We have already registered 40 people and we are expecting
more people to join us. We are trying co-ordinate with other such
foundations in Pune and Kolhapur so that more people take up such
initiatives,” he elaborates. He says he has been using the bicycle
regularly since the Foundation was formed.

According to Dr Jawale, “All the 40 members have largely stopped using
other modes of transport; we try to use the bicycle as often as we
can.” Does that include him as well? “I am a medical practitioner and
I go to different places for consultation so I cannot use the cycle.
But I ride my bicycle when I go for social visits,” he claims.

To register yourself, attend a meeting of the Foundation on June 29 at
Municipal Workers’ Union office, near Khavaiyya Hotel, Ram Maruti
Road; call on 25379495 / 9820490777

nilesh.nikade@mid-day.com

Cycle Foundation’s future plans

• To request TMC to plan more cycling tracks
• To encourage inventions in cycle models
• To arrange for cycling stands with the help of traffic department

Jo cycle chalaye wohi sikandar

Tanmay Jawale (5)
Resident of Vasant Vihar Complex and a student of Vasant Vihar School
“I go to my school and tuitions on my bicycle. My daddy encourages me
to ride it. I have just become a member of the Foundation and I will
tell my friends to join too. As of now, I ride a Tobu Cycle and want
to ride a cool model when I grow up.”

Manohar Mehendale (74)
Resident of Charai and a retired manager of Bharat Cycle Company, Kalbadevi
“I have lived amidst bicycles for the last 50 years of my life. I work
with some charitable trusts and I ride my bicycle to those offices. In
fact, I go on a three to four-km bicycle ride daily. I use a Hercules
model, which was gifted to me by my office staff.”

Dipti Iyer (32)
Resident of Samta Nagar and homemaker
“I joined the Foundation along with my son. I go the marketplace and
pay social visits using my cycle. I ride a Hercules MTB. My main aim
of joining this Foundation is to do my bit for the environment.”
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