Biking group marks second anniversary
‘Critical Mass started so people could embrace their environment’.
LAHORE:
Critical Mass, the cycling and environment awareness raising group, celebrated its two-year anniversary in Pakistan yesterday with a bike tour of the old city.
Critical Mass idea was conceived as a small social initiative during the early 1990s that turned into a worldwide movement for the preservation of eco-friendly transport and policies.
The initiative was brought to Lahore two years ago by environmentalist and lawyer Ahmed Rafay Alam along with a group of friends.
“It’s been over two years, and Critical Mass Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi are still going strong,” said Alam. “In Lahore the city isn’t that big so you can get to most places in around 45 minutes or so.” Alam explained that the initiative was started to get people to embrace the environment they live in. He said that cycles don’t require diesel and petrol, so more bicycles means better air quality in the city.
The group of cyclists has received resistance from drivers unwilling to give up their automobiles for bicycles. Naeem Iqbal, a teacher and avid cyclist, said the trouble is that much of the elite or upper-middle class is reluctant to leave the comfort of the car.
“I live in Raiwind and I have made it a habit to bike to work,” said Iqbal.
Zimedaar Sheri chairperson Murtaza Khwaja said that the two year anniversary had proven to be successful at creating awareness amongst the different strata of the community.
Critical Mass regular Mahmood Shamsher Ali, said that two years ago it would have been unusual to hear people talking about biking in the city, but now people were comfortable going to areas that are normally inaccessible by car.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 27th, 2010.
Critical Mass, the cycling and environment awareness raising group, celebrated its two-year anniversary in Pakistan yesterday with a bike tour of the old city.
Critical Mass idea was conceived as a small social initiative during the early 1990s that turned into a worldwide movement for the preservation of eco-friendly transport and policies.
The initiative was brought to Lahore two years ago by environmentalist and lawyer Ahmed Rafay Alam along with a group of friends.
“It’s been over two years, and Critical Mass Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi are still going strong,” said Alam. “In Lahore the city isn’t that big so you can get to most places in around 45 minutes or so.” Alam explained that the initiative was started to get people to embrace the environment they live in. He said that cycles don’t require diesel and petrol, so more bicycles means better air quality in the city.
The group of cyclists has received resistance from drivers unwilling to give up their automobiles for bicycles. Naeem Iqbal, a teacher and avid cyclist, said the trouble is that much of the elite or upper-middle class is reluctant to leave the comfort of the car.
“I live in Raiwind and I have made it a habit to bike to work,” said Iqbal.
Zimedaar Sheri chairperson Murtaza Khwaja said that the two year anniversary had proven to be successful at creating awareness amongst the different strata of the community.
Critical Mass regular Mahmood Shamsher Ali, said that two years ago it would have been unusual to hear people talking about biking in the city, but now people were comfortable going to areas that are normally inaccessible by car.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 27th, 2010.