Bhubaneswar: On the occasion of the first official ‘World Bicycle Day’ (WBD) Sunday, many people from different walks of life and age groups took part in bicycle rallies to create awareness about benefits of cycling, environment protection and healthy life.
Various groups had organised the rallies. Notable among these was a rally organised by the Padmashree Yoga Sports Organisation, Cuttack. It was taken out a rally from Anand Bhawan in Cuttack to Naveen Niwas in Bhubaneswar.
Flagging it off at Anand Bhawan, Additional DG Satyajit Mohanty said, “People should use bicycle to help them lead a healthy life and at the same time it will protect the environment.”
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said, “I wish the cyclists all the very best … They have come here from Cuttack today.” He also felicitated the cyclists.
Speaking about the objective of the cycle rally, Padmashree Mohanty, a participant, said, “This bicycle rally was organised to create awareness about environment. We want to see Odisha as a pollution-free state and therefore, all of us should ensure that pollution level does not increase beyond alarming proportions in the state like in New Delhi, which had imposed the odd and even formula to check pollution.”
He said that the United Nations has acknowledged the uniqueness, longevity and versatility of the bicycle, which has been in use for two centuries. It is a simple, affordable, reliable, clean and environmentally fit sustainable means of transportation.
The United Nations has declared June 3 as World Bicycle Day to promote cycling as part of sustainable development not only as a means of transport but also as a vehicle for a healthy and active life.
Meanwhile, Bhubaneswar Cycling and Adventure Club (BCAC) members wearing neon-green jerseys and helmets with other cycling gears were quite elated to celebrate the 1st World Bicycle Day. Bicycles of different makes, models and styles joined this rally to spread the message of a health and eco-friendliness with universal brotherhood and world peace. The group organised the rally from Bhubaneswar Club to Nandankanan Zoological Park in which more than 65 groups participated,
Sanjib Panda of BCAC said, “In the era of climate change and environmental issues it is very important for people to understand that by using cycle as a way of transport we can save the planet in a larger way.”
Cyclists join Ekamra walkers
Bhubaneswar: Architects from different colleges and universities across India, budding Odissi dancers, travellers from Delhi and many more visitors joined Sunday’s popular heritage tour, the 77th Ekamra Walks Old Town Circuit.
A cyclist team from ‘We All Ride Bicycle’ joined the walkers later at Ekamra Van to spread the message of cycling as June 3 is the World Bicycle Day. The cyclist group pedaled to Dhauli from Odisha State Museum to create an impression that bicycle is a symbol of peace, harmony, equality and happiness on streets.
Piyush Ranjan Rout, from the city-based cycling group, hailed Ekamra Walks for promoting priceless monuments, especially those in the Old Town area. He, however, added that a cycle heritage tour would be an interesting addition to the city’s growing popularity on the heritage promotion map.
Assistant Conservator of Forest and curator of the beautiful Ekamra Van Medicinal Plant garden, Ashok Kumar Mishra, after educating the participants on the various aspects of the rare plants, added that “with use of more and more non-motorised mode of transport we can reduce the carbon burden on our local and global climate.”
Subhra Mohanty, a post-graduate in Urban Management from Ahmedabad-based CEPT University, said the walk helps an architect a lot in getting ideas about distinct Kalingan architectural style on temple building.
Aishwarya Das, also an Urban Management post-graduate from the university, said the walk makes an Odia proud as it deals with popularising our own old architectural craftsmanship, which in the past even influenced structures in far away island nations in the South East Asian region as the ancient Kalinga empire had maritime trade links with those countries. Monalisa Panda and Vandana Lakra, also architects, accompanied Subhra and Aishwarya and they all had a gala time during the Walk.