Uptown Indiranagar chants— 'Bolo cycle day ki Jai'

BANGALORE: Sunday started out like any other day for Honnappa Dhore, a traffic constable posted on 11th main, Indiranagar. The Cycle Day event was under way and his duty was to ensure that no motorists disrupted it. However, when hundreds of cycling enthusiasts started pedalling away, Honnappa couldn't stay aloof. Within minutes, the 32-year-old too was on the street furiously riding a cycle provided by the organizers.Such was the infectious energy in uptown Indiranagar where hundreds of participants of all age groups completed the 4km-long rally.
The Cycle Day, held for the first time in Indiranagar, was special in many ways. Unlike previous editions where the event was held near a lakeside or main road, this was bang in a residential area. The locality came alive to reclaim their streets and celebrate cycling.
"Bolo Cycle Day ki Jai," chanted the cycling buffs just before the flag-off to the eco-friendly movement supported by TOI. The open streets event was organized jointly by Bengaluru Coalition Open Streets (BCOS), a non-profit collective comprising of DULT, Praja RAAG, EMBARQ, ESAF and individuals, with support from organizations like Bangalore Police (Traffic and Law & Order) and BBMP.
The 11th main road adjacent to a park turned into a playground, as cyclists started playing football, shuttle cock, tug-of-war, skating and other games before and after the rally. Impressed by these fitness freaks even a traffic police officer was seen doing some quick exercises on the road. The officer said due to lack of exercises many cops have huge tummy, their duty will be so hectic they don't get time to do exercises.
"This event has motivated us to make ourselves free for some time everyday to do some exercises," the officer added.
TOI's cycling campaign has also pushed many youngsters in the city to start using cycles. Ritika Kalra, a nutritionist, said the Cycle Day has inspired her to cycle daily to her office in Isro Layout from Indiranagar. "Every day I travel 7km on cycle to promote cycling in the city, because as a nutritionist, I see people with many lifestyle disorders," she said.
Most participants who took part in this mega green event were youngsters and they demanded bicycle lanes on all city roads. Maharani K, an information science engineering graduate, said though she prefers to travel by cycle every day, the busy roads of Bangalore aren't safe. There are very few cycle lanes in the city, if these lanes are increased there will be a rise in number of cyclists, she added.