About 500 cyclists gathered at Sector 29, Gurgaon, to participate in the first edition of Pedestrians and Cyclists First, an initiative meant to promote road safety for cyclists and pedestrians.
Participants enjoy cycling on empty Gurgaon roads in the wee hours of the morning
In the early hours of April 30, about 500 cyclists gathered at Sector 29, Gurgaon, to enjoy the empty city roads — a rarity on its own. The event launched the first edition of Pedestrians and Cyclists First.
The initiative — a joint step by citizens, the district administration and the private sector — stressed the importance of safety for pedestrians and cyclists. They also demanded infrastructural developments to be aligned with the safety requirements of pedestrians and cyclists.
There were three consecutive rides of 55 km, 18 km and 4 km.
Many cyclist groups, such as Delhi Elite Cyclists, Gurgaon Road Runners, Pedal Yatri and Gurgaon Girl Riders — along with residents — eagerly took part in this one-of-a-kind event.
“It was such pleasant weather today, and I rode with my son. It was a whole lot of fun, but this can’t be done on usual days because of traffic. Safety is a big issue, and hence, I participated in this initiative with my family,” said Vivek Yadav, who rode 4 km with his 8-year-old son.
Gurgaon police commissioner Sandeep Khairwar, DCP traffic Balbir Singh and CEO of IT giant Nagarro, Manas Fuloria, were present at the venue to encourage participants.
Fuloria said, “Even when a rupee is invested in transport infrastructure, it should put safety and convenience of pedestrians and cyclists first. While Gurgaon invests thousands of crores of taxpayer money in road infrastructure, we, unfortunately, see a complete disregard for pedestrians and cyclists, let alone convenience! Let 2017 be the year when this changes forever.”
An enthusiastic participant Kushal Arora, also a member of Pedal Yatri, said, “I am happy to be part of this. The more we promote road safety, the more it will encourage people to switch to cycling for commuting, which is the need of the hour.”
Said Megha Jha, the organiser of the event, said, “There great turnout shows people are willing to opt for healthier commute options — cycling and walking— but we need to develop safe road infrastructure.”
