The healthy sport of cycling is becoming a necessity especially for the marginalised and low income group of the country as it is the most economical way to meet both ends amid the every day increase in petroleum products’ prices. In past, it the cycling used to be a good practice to keep healthy but due to the rapid increase in petroleum prices, people especially the youth are returning to cycling for transportation. “It is not only a healthy activity but also a solution to expensive transportation especially during Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) load-shedding days”, said Akhtar Munir, a resident of I-9.
He said he used to go to office by bus but he had to face a lot of difficulties due to traffic jams and in days of shortage of fuel or CNG. “Now I use bicycle and enjoy my journey without any hassle”, he added. Asif Khan, a carpenter by profession, said he worked at the Karachi Company and used to go to his workplace on his motorbike. “But hike in petroleum prices has increased my financial woes I sold my motorcycle and bought a bicycle. This is really great, I am economising wisely my daily sending now,” he added.’
Dr Shahid Zaman, a health expert, said the rising trend of using bicycles was not only goof for people’s health but also for city’s environment. “If everyone, living within five miles of his or her workplace uses bicycle instead of car or motorbike just for on day a week, and this happens globally, nearly five million tons of global warming pollution can be avoided every year,” he observed.