NEW DELHI: To reduce vehicular pollution and protect the Capital from ecological degradation, the Delhi Cycling Club is launching a unique two-year “Climate bicycle and bus ride programme” in the city beginning June 7.
The main objectives of the programme are to create awareness and sensitise the public about climate change and environment in a lively, interactive and interesting manner and promote bicycle and public transport as environment-friendly, sustainable and socially equitable transportation solutions.
The programme intends to share information and ideas with people on how they can contribute to save the environment by adopting green travel and living habits in their day-to-day life.
To be started as one ride every quarter, it will eventually be held once every month. The programme will be open to all and there will be no charge for participating in it. It will give people an opportunity to leave behind their cars and motorbikes for a day and explore various parts of the city on bicycle and low-floor buses/Delhi Metro trains on a couple of hours’ guided tour along with family, friends, colleagues and a group of other like-minded people on weekends and holidays.
Why and how
An expert or resource person and some volunteers will lead the group and conduct an onboard or separate interactive session where participants will be familiarised with the concept of the Bus Rapid Transit System, Delhi Metro railway, public transport, dedicated pedestrian sidewalks and bicycle tracks as well as their other queries on traffic and transportation issues will be addressed.
The participants will be told why and how they should ensure safety and respect the rights of cyclists, pedestrians, cycle-rickshaws and other vulnerable road users while driving their private vehicles.
The first programme will be organised on June 7 along the bicycle tracks of the much talked about BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) corridor in the Capital. There will be a 12-km bicycle ride and another 12-km bus ride. It will start at 7-30 a.m. from the Pragati Maidan metro railway station on bicycles and cover a distance of 12 km along the BRT corridor passing through Moolchand, Greater Kailash, Chiragh Dilli, Pushp Vihar and Ambedkar Nagar Terminal. After a 15-minute halt at Ambedkar Nagar, participants can leave their bicycles and take the low-floor bus ride to come back to the Pragati Maidan metro station by 9-30 a.m.
Extra bicycles would be available free of cost on a first-come-first-served basis at the venue for those who cannot get their own bicycles.
