CSR: World Bicycle Day

It is World Bicycle Day today. Not only is cycling the most environmentally responsible way to commute, it’s a practice companies are promoting as part of their CSR.

CSR activities on World Bicycle Day

Employees of Liberty General Insurance Limited, as a part of their annual CSR activity ‘Serve with Liberty’ came together and cycled to spread awareness about reducing carbon emission and following traffic rules. A group of volunteers from Liberty General Insurance cycled for this cause during peak office hours from Lower Parel to Worli in Mumbai on May 10th, ahead of World Bicycle Day.

The activity was led by Anita Gupta, super randonneur and endurance cyclist from Liberty General Insurance along with Firoza Suresh, Bicycle Mayor of Mumbai, and founder of Smart Commute Foundation NGO. These experienced cyclists along with ‘Serve with Liberty’ helped in spreading awareness about not just reducing carbon emission but also how cycling if pursued as a sport can help us in staying fit.

The Cycling Federation of India (CFI) felicitated Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt Ltd (HMSI) in New Delhi for supporting young Indian cyclists representing India as part of its CSR.

The HMSI had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the CFI in May 2017 to support the Indian cyclists at global level. In last two years, Honda has provided equipment, including static trainer, motorised, disc wheel cycles and foreign training support. With its support, 18 Indian cyclists are making the country proud in the World Premiere Cycling Championships.

Starting 2019 on a thumping note, the Indian cycling team, led by Ronaldo Laitonjam Singh and Alban Esow, topped the medals tally with four gold, as many silver and two bronze medals at 26th Junior Asian Track Cycling Championship in Jakarta (Indonesia). Represented by Mayuri Lute, Manjeet Singh and Apolonious, team India secured first place in medals tally by bagging 6 gold, 5 silver and 3 bronze medals at Track Asia Cup in September 2018. Alban Esow won the first silver medal for India in the World Junior Cycling Championships at Aigle in August 2018.

Will Mumbai become the bicycle capital?

Firoza Suresh, who is the founder of the NGO ‘The Smart Commute Foundation’, has a vision of making Mumbai the bicycle capital of India by 2030. They have been working with the corporate sector to enable a behavioural change in people’s attitude towards accepting cycling as a way of life and with the civic authorities to understand and develop a cycling policy.

Rishi Shah co-founded the company Mumbai Riders in 2016 with the purpose of reviving cycling. They organise cycling rides across the city and have organised more than 200 public events along with various corporate events, having hosted more than 6000 riders. They have organised a Midnight cycling event for the public on June 8.

If you’ve been waiting to get out your bicycle and hit the streets, World Bicycle Day today is the best day to begin!

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