City Enthusiasts Keep Cycling on World Bicycle Day

Led by 75-year-old Marri Laxman Reddy, the city cyclist enthusiasts gathered at Tank Bund and made a spin around the Hussainsagar to mark the occasion. “It is always a nice feeling when you ride a bicycle. It is one of the best way to be fit. Much before the coronavirus, I used to cycle to twice a week, riding about 50 km. It gives a lot of satisfaction.

Ever since the lockdown was declared in the State, I have not rode the cycle but today was the occasion to celebrate the World Cycling Day,’’ said the veteran athlete of MLR Institute of Technology. Nandanoori Ravinder, the founder and secretary of Hyderabad Cyclists Group, said they had started the association in 2017 to encourage cycling in the city and the State.

“We frequently cycle in the Bowenpally- Suchitra-Medchal. But because of pandemic, all these activities had to be stopped. We plan to restart the cycling activity in a phased manner and we will follow the guidelines which are required now,’’ he said, adding, “the next big event is a cycle ride to Narsapur forest which is 100 km from city.’’ Ravinder pointed out that they are planning to open a cycle station at Suchitra. “We have around 1,200 active cyclists in the city.

We want to make it more active. We have to work more vigorously for a cycle track in important places of the city like the Hitec station. Cycling should be encouraged in a big way and I want the corporate people to use cycles more,’’ said Ravinder. Ace photographer Arvind Chenji is also a cyclist enthusiast. “We need to commute more in cycle like that is done in many of the European countries. It will promote good health and make the city pollution-free.

We should encourage cycling more aggressively,” said Chenji, who had formed Hyderabad Racing League (HRL) a few years ago. Chenji’s son Parusharam, a product of HRL and who had won a silver at the Indian Road Cycling Nationals, under-23 Mass Start (120km), at Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh) in 2016, said cycling is always an exciting and adventure sport. “It is time we create more funds for the promotion of cycling.

For instance, British government has earmarked 2 million pounds for promotion of cycling. We, too, need to take up cycling more seriously. More cycles on the road means less pollution. That should be the motto for the future.’’ Ten-time champion Maxwell Trevor said this city has always had a rich history of cycling. “Hopefully, we bring back the cycling glory to the city with more participation,’’ he added.