A UNIQUE INITIATIVE IN ALIGARH.....CYCLING

 

ALIGARH May 28: 

Ahead of the World Environment Day on June 5, efforts have begun to promote cycling in a big way in the Aligarh Muslim University campus. Both students and the faculty members see cycling as the best option to contain air pollution due to increasing number of vehicles.

The 'AMU Cycle Mart,'  a unique initiative to popularise cycling, has been launched by the univesity administration to achieve the goal of a greener and cleaner campus.

The Pedal Green AMU Bicycle Studio is a joint venture with Hero Cycles Ltd., which would provide bicycles to the students, faculty members and non-teaching staff at a concessional price with stickers reading ‘Pedal Green AMU’. The University has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hero Cycles for five years.

The initiative aimed at increasing the use of bicycles for commuting within the university, promises not just a pollution free environment but also a healthier lifestyle, say the promoters.

The Vice Chancellor, Lt Gen Shah says the opening of this mart fulfills  his dream of AMU becoming  sensitive towards the green environment like universities in Europe and America. He hopes the mart will  help promote a cycle culture in AMU and students and teachers will prefer cycles for daily commuting.

The  Project Manager of Hero Cycles,  Gopal Krishna says "it is a right decision in right direction and other universities in India will also promote use of cycle in their campuses to make it greener and cleaner."

But there are cynics too, who think, the initiative will not attract notice. "The guys love the mobikes and high speed. And the faculty members wouldn't like to waste time commuting on bikes," says Chaman Sharma, a local journalist.

In Taj city, the Dayalbagh Deemed University run by the followers of the Radhasoami faith, cycling is fairly popular. "Many teachers and administrators use cycles to commute from their homes to the campus."