Pune Cycle Prathishthan brings together people who love cycling as much as they love the planet
Pune Cycle Prathishthan brings together people who love cycling as much as they love the planet
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All they had going for them was the love for cycling. As it turned out, that was all that they needed. The Pune Cycle Pratishthan (PCP), which was started in 1997 by three Punekars, has today brought together 300 people who are determined to do their bit for the environment.
The club was started by Dr Shirish Patwardhan, Dr Dilip Sarda and Nand Kumar Bhatewara in 1997. Jugal Rathi (62), who is the main force behind this club today, said, "We have a lot of activities. There is a cycle promotion rally on the first and second Sunday of each month. On the first Sunday, we start out at 8 am, while on the second Sunday we set off at 7 am. On our last trip we went to Baner and Someshwar temples. Next time, we'll go to the Empress Garden."
Incentives
Apart from organising activities, the club has brought small, but significant changes in people.
Ulhas Joshi (48), a member who has his own company, gives a Rs 500 incentive to employees who come to office on bicycles. They are also given permission to come in 20 minutes late in the morning and leave 20 minutes early! "I cycle to office too.
I must lead by example," he said.
New career
Nachiket Joshi (20), a fresh engineering graduate, was introduced to the world of cycling last year. His initiation was a Mumbai-Goa trip. It took another two trips, this time to Ladakh, for him to become an absolute convert.
He took up cycling as a career. He joined hands with a friend to launch a company called Guardian Cycling Holidays that, as the name suggests, organises cycling vacations.
"We were planning a trip to Switzerland, but that got cancelled due to swine flu. Trips to Switzerland and England will certainly happen next year. Cycling is amazing; a great way to enjoy a journey," he said.
Pleased at the way the club was growing, Rathi concluded, "Each person who rides a bicycle instead of driving a car is helping the planet."
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