Cycle enthusiasts launch 'Project Cycle2Work'

Over 600 cyclists from different parts of the megapolis today launched an initiative aimed at encouraging people to use bicycles for commuting to work by riding up to the central business district of Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC).
"We have been using bicycles for leisure or as a sport but we think there is a need to use it more for your commute, starting with cycling to work," Vijayshree Pednekar, a transport planner, who is behind the project, told PTI.
From now on, the 'Project Cycle2Work' will be concentrating on corporates to help raise funding for a smart commute application on the lines of Stepathlon for walking, which will help encourage their employees to cycle to work, Pednekar said.

The cyclists rode to the BKC from seven pre-decided routes for the special initiative, which coincided with the World Environment Day.
"It was a very successful ride and now people want us to have such events every month," Firoza Suresh, another organiser, said.
Stating that promoting cycling does not require huge resources like any other mega infra projects, Pednekar stressed on the need to have bike sharing programmes where bicycles can be hired from special stations.
Suresh said Maharashtra environment minister Ramdas Kadam, who was present at the event, is very keen to understand the issues surrounding the cycling community and has promised all help as people taking to cycling will help reduce pollution and make them fit.

For the next year, Suresh said many corporates have already evinced interest to support such initiatives and the project would focus on having multiple places across the city where cyclists could converge.