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Citizens fight pollution the eco-friendly way

The 300-km cyclathon took off from India Gate with around 100 participants

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Participants at the start-off point for the 300-kilometre-long cyclathon on Friday. The cyclathon will end at Timber Trail in Himachal Pradesh.
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It’s a heart warming tale. While Delhiites may be sitting huddled indoors complaining about the rising pollution levels, these group of people, an estimated 100 participants, are actually doing something about it.

Flagged off from India Gate early Friday morning, these concerned citizens are taking part in a 300-km long cyclathon, in a bid not just to create awareness about pollution but to show how eco-friendly measures could be used to combat it. The cyclathon will end at Timber Trail, Himachal Pradesh.

Organised by a Gurgaon-based group of cycling enthusiasts —Gurgaon Road Runners (GRR), the event entitled ‘Rolling Wheels to Timber Trail’ is being held for the second year in a row. Organisers of the event say that more such events are necessary to promote fitness and ensure a cleaner environment.       

“Cycling can do two things at a time — one is to save the environment and the other is to keep you fit. A cycle ride not just ensures an individual’s fitness but also helps to make the environment pollution free,” said Siddarth Choudhary, founder of GRR, ahead of the event.

All the participants say that they have taken time out of their regular jobs to join the excursion. They add that they hope the event will serve as a message to others that they actively need to do their part if they are to save their city from being choked by pollutants.

“I cannot think of a more creative way to publicise this pure message of conserving the environment,” said Anupam Tomar, 32.  

Sangeeta Shiledar, 41, a banker, and another participant, agreed. “This is my second expedition with GRR. I want to make the youth aware about the benefits of cycling and reviving the good old days when people would simply cycle to work,” she said.

The message comes at a time when the Capital is simply gasping for air. Post-Diwali, air quality indexes have hovered around the ‘severe’ and ‘dangerous’ categories with doctors advising those with respiratory and heart-related problems to take special care.    

It’s not just pollution though; the fun element of the event is what has attracted people to the event. Devender Jain, another participant, says that the cyclathon came as a welcome break for him.

“It’s an opportunity for me to take a break from my scheduled life to experience the fun of riding and to make people aware of the need to protect the environment,” he said.

The participants who had been training for the last eight weeks to prepare for the event have now finally got a chance to show their cycling process. The event will conclude with a felicitation ceremony held in Delhi.

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