Cycle rally to mark car-free day on Sept 22

If you have not got your rusting cycle out of the garage this monsoon, make sure you get it fixed soon.

In an effort to generate awareness about reducing vehicular pollution, the Young Environmentalists Programme Trust (YEPT), a non-government organisation, is organising a cycle rally to mark World Car Free Day on September 22.

"So many people take their cars out go to the nearby mall or market, adding to the pollution levels as well as traffic. This is something we are increasingly witnessing at the Hiranandani Complex," said Elsie Gabriel, founder president, YEPT. "Car Free Day is a practice to be aware of our consumption of energy and to take mindful actions to reduce our energy use," he added.

In its fifth year, the two-hour rally will see cyclists ride through the Rodas Ecotel around the Hiranandani Complex in Powai. While the first year witnessed 90 participants, last year the number jumped to 200.

Stating that Car Free Day is not just about driving less, Elsie said, "It is, at its root, about reducing our personal and family greenhouse gas emissions that warm the planet. In a city like Mumbai, it is up to us and the government to create permanent changes beneficial to pedestrians and cyclists."

While there will be first timers at the cycle rally, enthusiasts such as Tanya Satish, 18, have participated in the rally for the past three years. "More people using cycles will mean less traffic and pollution. It's time we spread this awareness because we need to save the environment for the next generation," said Satish, a cycling enthusiast who has coaxed her college classmates to participate.