Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Media Release
Mangaluru, Sep 27: As many as 65 enthusiastic riders participated in the Cycles4Change Challenge to create awareness of the proposed 'dedicated cycling track' in Mangaluru. Riders as young as 6 and 60 wholeheartedly pedalled the 10 km route and had a first-hand experience of the Mangaluru Smart City cycling route touching schools and colleges. Senior members of WE R CYCLING (WERC) guided the younger bunch and kept them at safety at all times while encouraging them to pedal on.
In the later phases, the cycling track will touch most of Mangaluru’s schools and colleges, so that students can use the track safely and regularly to commute to their institutions. The cycling track, once completed, will also be open to use for all cyclists.
WERC members made sure the cycling group moved smoothly and safely by halting and manning traffic at every junction, while the motorists watched the sea of cyclists in awe.
At the start of the ride, Harniish Raj, the event coordinator and the representative of WERC for Mangaluru Smart City Cycles4Change committee instructed and educated the novice riders on thumb rules of riding safely on public roads, and ensuring that masks were worn by all the participants as per government regulations for COVID-19 safety.
After the ride was complete a small session was conducted to share experiences of cyclists; Suggestions and recommendations were presented to the Mangaluru Smart City officials for deliberation and implementation to make Mangaluru safe for cyclists.
The event ended with a nutritious breakfast arranged by Smart City Mangaluru for all the participants.
Besides the members of WE R CYCLING, Diwakar Pandeshwar (Mayor of Mangaluru), Cycles4Change officials Niren Jain (Architect & Environmental Planners consultant to MSCL for transforming Mangaluru to a Cycling Friendly City), Mohammed Nazir (MD), Arun Rao (GM, technical), and Chandrakant, Nodal officer for India cycle's 4change challenge, were present.
Other officials from Mangaluru Smart City were, Manju Keerthi, Mohammad Sabith, and Archana Sudesh.