Dressed in many hues, they rooted only for Green

The machine they rode was ordinary. So was their journey. And, so was their destination. But their mission was special: to spread the message that it’s high time we took care of our environment and nurtured it.

In the Tour de Mumbai, the first ever international cycling event held on a sunny Sunday in Mumbai, riding the simple two wheeler became a matter of pride for many participants, as they got an opportunity to be a part of the environment awareness campaign which they proudly called the Green Ride.

A vivacious Prerna Gandhi, 61, smiled gleefully as she finished the 12-km Green Ride in just 20 minutes.

“It felt so great. It reminded me of my college days when I used to cycle,” Gandhi said, adding that she decided to participate in the Green Ride to show her concern for environmental issues. “A day of cycling in the city will make a considerable difference and will help us reduce the level of pollution in Mumbai,” she pointed out.
Similarly, another participant, Shashank Mamidanna, 25, could not hold back his enthusiasm. “I enjoyed myself today,” Mamidanna said.

The participants were visibly excited, and so were the audience along the road who cheered them.

Shahnaz Mehta, 42, a participant, said, “Everyone encouraged us. It was like an energy booster.” Mehta said she believes such an event is an effective way to make people environment-conscious.
Akil Khan, chairman and MD, ID Sports, says, “An event like this encourages mass participation, and supports a sport i.e. cycling.”
Satish Menon, CEO, Sports18, says, “The response for the cyclothon has been overwhelming with over 7,000 participants.”