Residents flock to try out capital’s latest attraction

Mayor joins bikers in riding on dedicated cycling tracks after inaugurating them

ISLAMABAD: The first-ever cycling lanes in the capital were formally inaugurated on Saturday morning.

The move was met with glee by dozens of cyclists -- young and old, men and women -- who showed up at Foreign Office roundabout on Saturday morning mounted on their cycles and wearing safety gear. Some even wore jackets owing to the slightly chilly weather.

The cycling lane was formally inaugurated by Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) Mayor and Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) Sheikh Anser Aziz on Constitution Avenue. Officials from the environment ministry, IMC and CDA along with a number of bicycle enthusiasts were also present on the occasion.

Aziz said that the city administration’s top priority was to provide recreational facilities to the capital’s residents. He added that more cycling lanes would be built along important roads of the city.

He said that Islamabad was the first city in the country, and 101st in the world, which had signed the Green Charter to adopt UN Urban Environmental Accords. Under charter’s action plan, the mayor said Islamabad would be made more beautiful and cycling lanes would be established along each new road.

Pointing out that the existing infrastructure had been used for the first phase of the project, Aziz said that cycling was a healthy activity, not to mention that it was environment-friendly too.

Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Green Pakistan Syed Rizwan Mehboob said that practical steps have been taken to make Islamabad more environment-friendly.

After the formal ceremony, Aziz joined over 50 of the capital’s residents who had gathered in front of the Presidency on Constitution Avenue, riding from D-Chowk to Globe Roundabout and later towards Serena Chowk.

Cycling lanes had been included with all the roads built when Islamabad was first constructed. However, over time these lanes fell to disrepair and were either encroached or in certain areas totally vanished.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2016.