On World Cycle Day, students of Ernakulam district will collaborate with traffic police to promote this sustainable mode of travel
On World Cycle Day, students of Ernakulam district will collaborate with traffic police to promote this sustainable mode of travel
In Fort Kochi and Mattancherry, around 80% of the students cycle to school. “Kochi has a culture of cycling. There is a need to create a safe environment for them,” says Thiruvananthapuram Cycle Mayor Prakash P Gopinath, who is coordinating the Cycle With Kochi project, which was launched in October 2021.
To do this, the plan is to work with local administrations to ease traffic between 9 a.m. and 9.30 a.m. when most schools open. “It should be a message to the public that the road is for cyclists too and we take care of our children,” says Prakash.
On World Bicycle Day, June 3, the Cycle Brigade will be inaugurated at Vidya Mandir, Bhavan in Elamakkara as a launch in schools in Ernakulam district. These will include student and teacher coordinators, who will liaise with the local traffic police and student police cadets to identify safe routes for students to cycle to school. “The main objective of formation of these cycling clubs in schools is to integrate the culture of using non-motorized transport and a healthy and non-polluting way of life of the students,” says Prakash.
Cycle brigades will be set up in schools in 74 wards of Kochi Municipal Corporation and will be coordinated by 21 cycle champions. Prakash explains that 74 wards come under 21 circles and each circle will select a cycle champion who is enthusiastic and promotes this sustainable mode of travel.
“When a group of students going to their school by bicycle is joined on their way by other students on their cycles, it is a cycled train. We must ensure that cyclists have a safe journey. This can be done by involving the traffic police. Senior students could be tasked with leading and protecting convoys,” he says, adding that cyclists should know and promote the fact that their travel choices make them part of climate change action. “The responsibility of bringing this change back to non-motorized transportation lies with us.”
new routes
Cycle With Kochi’s first major programme, Kudumbashree to train women to ride bicycles, began in January 2022. Since then it has trained 350 women in different age groups.
Another unique initiative is the survey of small cycle repair shops in the city. There are 116 such shops and their location will be included in Google Maps.
On 18 May, 18 cycling clubs organized a ‘Ride of Silence’ in honor of cyclists killed in road accidents. Action promised them to install cycle racks at 50 places in the city by CSML.
Two cycle routes that avoid bus routes, identified by Cycle Champions. Fort Kochi and Mattancherry to be included in the existing road design: one from Ro-Ro jetty to Veli Maidan at Fort Kochi and the other at Mattancherry.
Age and gender no bar
Zeenath Shihab taught cycling to 65 year old Kusum Parikh
Kusum Parikh, 65, is learning to ride a bicycle, taught by Zeenath Shihab, a housewife, and Kudumbashree teaches women to ride. Zeenath has taught 81 women till now. “Fear,” she says, is the biggest obstacle. “Most of the women are between 45 and 60 years old. There are many ASHA workers. Skills have empowered them, they now cycle to work, are independent and save money and time.” Kusum is thrilled to learn to ride a bicycle, and is supported by her son and daughter, who have promised to buy her an e-scooter once she becomes proficient in cycling.
Sustainable Mode
In 2017, the Integrated Sustainable Urban Transport System (Smart-SUT) project for Smart Cities was launched in Kochi, Coimbatore and Bhubaneswar. In February 2021, Kochi Mayor Anil Kumar declared 2021 as the ‘Year of Green Urban Mobility’. Later, in October, the ‘Bicycle with Kochi’ program was launched to promote cycle as the preferred mode of commuting in all 74 wards of Kochi.
A collaboration between the Kochi Municipal Corporation (KMC), CSML (Cochin Smart City Mission Limited) and C-HED (Centre for Heritage, Environment and Development), the project is run on eight grounds across the city, with one trainer for each ground. has been allotted. , GIZ, a German Agency for International Cooperation, is supporting the project by providing research and technology support.
in the city, on a bicycle
“Cyclosportive Kochi” Cycling event will be organized on 5th June 2022 (Sunday) on “World Environment Day” to promote healthy living and cycling as a means of green transport. A semi-annual event organized by Upgrade Cycling in association with the Regional Sports Center Kochi aims to inculcate the culture of cycling among the riders as well as provide an opportunity to meet all the cycling enthusiasts of the city.
Contact for details: 9995610123
Cochin Bikers Club: On June 12 there will be a 300 km ride from Kochi to Kadalondi Bridge near Kozhikode, which will end in 20 hours. It commemorates the first 300 km ride in France on 11 June 1922. A 100-odd rider is lined up to take part along with a fair number of female riders. This will be the club’s 65th 200km plus ride.
For more information contact: 9895149979