“Roads are not only for Mercedes and Toyota but roads are also for pedestrians, cyclists, elderly persons and students,” said Surat Municipal Commissioner (SMC), S Aparna, during Surat Cycle Rally on Sunday.

More than 300 cyclists participated in pedal for a green Surat cycle rally, jointly organized by SMC and Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) with support from Surat Traffic Police and Kendriya Vidyalaya-Icchanath.

The eight-kilometer long rally from Icchanath-Gobardhan Haveli-Icchanath was flagged off by Member of Parliament from Surat, Darshnaben Jardosh, city mayor, Surat, Raju Desai, deputy city mayor, Chhayaben Bhuva, SMC commissioner S. Aparna and city program manager-ITDP, Anuj Malhotra.

Speaking on the event, city program manager-ITDP, Anuj Malhotra said, “The rally was held on the eve of national science day to showcase bicycle as one of the most innovative mobility inventions ever. We need to have proper space for cyclists on the streets of Surat. Residential areas in the city need to be connected with market place and work places to popularize cycling in the city.”

Promoting the use of cycle for commuting in the city, Aparna said, “Certain streets in the city have been selected after the study conducted by ITDP for implementation of cyclist friendly designs. Cycles should be used and we have to provide safety for the cycle users on Surat roads.´

Sharing her experience of participation in the rally, Surat MP, Darshnaben Jardosh said, “This is the first time I have cycled on the city road, it was a joyful experience.”

Addressing to young children in the rally, Mayor Raju Desai said, “We all should dedicate one day for cycling for commuting in the city. We will be organizing such awareness events regularly in city to sensitize citizens about benefits of cycling.”

Students from different city schools, city-based cyclist groups, participants from non-government organizations, SMC, civil society members and bicycle enthusiasts participated in large number in the rally.