CONSUMER CONNECT INITIATIVE
Nafees Ahmad
B ringing back theenthusiasm of cycling,around 100 cyclists
took part in a cyclothon titled'Pedal to Greenery' that tookplace on February 18 inHaldwani. The event aimed atcreating awareness aboutstaying fit as well as theimportance of having pollu-tion-free environment.
Organised by The Times ofIndia, this activity was co-sponsored by Bike StationHaldwani, Bajrang Motors,Bajrang Sports, LSC AutoWheels Pvt Ltd, Tanishq GNPal and Sons, Sahas HomeoClinic and Giant Cycles.
The event was flagged offby Janmejay Khanduri, SSP,Nainital. The cyclothon start-ed from Rampur Road andculminated at the NainitalRoad, covering a distance of12 kms approximately. On theway, cyclists were greeted bysports enthusiasts andonlookers. Schools that par-ticipated in the event includ-ed Sacred Heart SeniorSecondary School, SKMSchool, Gurukul InternationalSchool, St Theresa Sr SecSchool, KVM Public Schooland Whitehall School.
Sharing his views,Khanduri, said, "Nowadays,hectic work schedules leavehardly anytime to take care ofone’s health. If we include
activities like cycling in ourdaily routine, then we don'thave to put in extra effort.Also, cycling is an eco-friendly means of transporta-tion, which is an addedadvantage."
Automated lifestyle aimedat easing people’s life, per-haps has resulted in lessphysical activity. Speakingabout the benefits of cycling,Dr Naveen Chandra Pandey,
owner, Sahas Homeo Clinicsaid, "Cycling helps in attain-ing cardiovascular fitness,
IN AN ATTEMPT TO CREATE AWARENESS ABOUT LEADING A HEALTHYLIFE, STAYING FIT AND KEEPING THE ENVIRONMENT POLLUTION-FREE, THE TIMES OF INDIA ORGANISED A CYCLE RALLY TITLED'PEDAL TO GREENERY'muscle strength and flexibility.It is also helpful in improvingjoint mobility and decreasingbody fat level.”
Sanjay Agarwal, managingdirector, Bajrang Motors andSuneel Agarwal, managingdirector, Bajrang Sports, said,“Though there are many state-of-the-art fitness centersmushrooming across the city,yet cycling is one of the exer-cises that makes workout afun process. The best partabout cycling is that people donot realise that they are actu-ally exercising.”
The cyclothon saw massive
participation. Sanjay Papnai, aretired teacher who enjoyed theearly morning spectacle, says,
“Cycling has become a stylestatement today. Markets areflooded with branded and high-
end bikes." Participants pre-
pared in advancefor this cyclothon.It was neither arace nor a compe-tition of sorts. Allthe participantsgathered to createawareness aboutkeeping fit and
healthy as well as keepingenvironment pollution-free.
Sharing their views,Abhishek Agarwal, director,LSC Auto Wheels Pvt Ltd andGopal Pal, director TanishqGN PAL and Sons, said, "Mostof us know about the negativeimpact of pollution on envi-ronment. However, whatmost of us don’t know is thatto bring about a change, oneneeds to make a smart choicein terms of personal mode oftransportation, which is opt-
ing for cycling.” To this, Raghubir
Kalakoti, director, BikeStation Haldwani, added,"The purpose of this eventwas to make people awareabout the ills of pollutioncreated by vehicles, and toopt for cycling.”
Such events help in bring-ing pivotal issues to the fore-front, making people realisewhat they are doing to theirenvironment and their health.
Tanishq Pal, a tenthgrade student who partici-pated in the cyclothon,said, "The rising level ofpollution in metros hasforced people to stay most-ly indoors. During the win-
ter season, they are liter-ally prisoners in their ownhomes. We don't want thisto happen in our hills.Thus, such activities willprove to be beneficial intimes ahead.”
Anant Ericson and
Rajesh Negi, participantsfrom the WhitehallSchool’s cycling team, say,"People are paying lessattention to their healthand the pollution is hittingus like never before. Thiscyclothon helped in put-ting across this senti-ment.”
Joint efforts, no matterhow small they are, canmake a huge difference.Charu Verma, the solewoman participant in theevent, shared, "It is goodto see that such activitiesare taking place in our cityfor the betterment.”
Cycle for health andENVIRONMENT
Such events helpin bringing pivotal
issues to the forefront, making
people realise what they are doing to their
environment and their health
Automated lifestyleaimed at easing
people's life, perhaps has
resulted in less physical activity.
Thus, cycling needs to be promoted
