Parthasarathy Sen
It was gratifying to read the news item ‘CM suggests bicycle riding to protect environment’ (Herald, November 11). CM Manohar Parrikar, himself an active cyclist, has done well to espouse the cause of bicycle riding on the streets of Goa and has assured the policy of renting a bicycle through a private company to save money of the users and construction of cycle stands at every 300 meters.
In China, the second most advanced country, cycling is a common feature. The CM’s decision is laudable and will go a long way to improve individual health besides being economical to every citizen and also to ecological concerns.
Cars and luxury vehicles attach a hashtag of superiority and self pride of the owners and persons sitting in them making cyclists and the pedestrians look secondary. Start of this policy and diversification will go a long way to cultivate that every individual is equal and promote true bonds fast disappearing in the world today. Goa is a smaller state and the best laboratory to test such a simple experiment and if successful and widely popular will definitely move other States to take lessons from this.
Goa which was once a Paradise with simplicity and civility has lost its sheen and pride through bad government policies which made the people acquiescent though there are many voices raised against environmental concerns. It is high time for this pilot project to start, deliver results and reestablish values of equality, decency and sanity in public life.
As a non-Goan, but one of the State’s great admirera, when I saw this news item my heart was filled with joy. The people must cooperate to make this dream come true. Remember the more we become connected to nature the more we can lead lives to our satisfaction and be helpful to others in their times of need.
Too many heavy vehicles are leading to a nightmare and if this is allowed to continue will bring an end to human possibilities and positivity. Today money power has become supreme and has led to wide divide between the privileged and the unfortunate.
