Cyclology : Subject Of Cycling From Trend To Culture

New Delhi : After the lockdown, cycling became a trend across the population of the country, especially for work trips. As Unlock-1 was announced in India, also as an alternative for daily physical exercise when gyms have been asked to remain closed to avoid transmission of highly contagious coronavirus, Delhi’s streets have seen a surge in cycle-use. 

‘Cyclology’ a new course now

Keeping with trend and while aiming to change it into a culture, Surat, city of Gujarat, is creating a new benchmark in green learning with its very interesting approach to promote cycling among young children.The civic body of the diamond city has designed a course ‘Cyclology’, which is being taught to students through elearning as a subject, to engage young minds to pedal up their vision of clean environment concepts. 

Without any delays, two schools have already started teaching it as part of the pilot project, which the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) targets to follow on in all its municipal schools.

‘Cyclology’, the new subject, is being taught in Class III and IV of RSM Experimental and CC Shah School at the initial phase. This course has been designed by BYCS, an Amsterdam-based social enterprise. This enterprise works to promote cycling, Sarvajanik Education Society (SES) and Nature Club Surat (NCS). 

Cycle4Change Challenge

The subject will be a 10-hour course under an initiative by SMC’s ‘Cycle4Change Challenge’. The books for the same have been published in Gujarati, Hindi and English languages which will be distributed among students after schools reopen. . ‘Cyclology’ course was launched by the eminent theatre personality who is an Padma Shree awardee, Yazdi Karanjia, known as an enthusiastic cyclist even at the age of 83 years. Under this course, students will be taught history of bicycle, traffic rules along with environmental, health, social and financial benefits in the course. 

Gaze of million people turned towards the environment conservation amid the world pandemic of COVID-19. In response to strong citizen interest in cycling, the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry this year launched the India Cycles4Change Challenge in July with an association with the ITDP India Programme.

The pilot project was launched, in the western state, Gujarat, on World Environment Day in June this year. It became the world’s first trading programme for particulate air pollution. This is similar to a system that successfully reduced acid rain in the United States in the 1990s.