Pedal power rides to the fore

Cyclists taking part in a riding campaign in George Town to show that pedal power is one way to fight the recent petrol price hike. — NST picture by GS Narinder Singh

GEORGE TOWN: The bicycle is back in vogue in Penang, and for good reason.

Two thousand cyclists rode in a 12km bicycle ride organised by the Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) yesterday to show that pedal power was one answer to the recent petrol price hike.

They took 45 minutes to cycle down Lebuh Pantai, Lebuh Chulia, Jalan Penang, Jalan Burma, Jalan Anson, Jalan Perak, Jalan Macalister, Lebuhraya Peel, Jalan Pangkor, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Lebuh Farquhar, Lebuh Light and back to Lebuh Downing where they had been flagged off.

CAP president S.M. Mohamed Idris who flagged off the ride at Bangunan Tuanku Syed Putra said the state government should create bicycle lanes along roads.

He also urged the state government to provide free bicycles to civil servants who wanted to cycle to work.
"Penang is a suitable place for cycling as most destinations are reachable by bicycles. The bicycle can help consumers save on transport costs," he added.

Mohamed Idris said the bicycle was cheap to maintain and was a healthy way of travelling.

"With this campaign and hopefully more to come, we hope to create a network of bicycle lovers throughout Malaysia to demonstrate the use of the bicycle as a transport solution," he added.

He said Malaysians had to reduce their dependence on motorised transport to reduce carbon emission and combat climate change.

Mohamed Idris also urged the Federal Government to declare on a Saturday a National Cycling Day to promote cycling.

Among the cyclists were retired teacher Tan Tiang Tat, 60, his daughter-in-law Lum Pek Yok, 38, and grandchildren Lim Shian Ying, 11, and Lim Shian Weei, 9.

"Yesterday, we practised hard at the playground at Sungai Nibong," said Tan.

"Today's event is well organised and we enjoyed ourselves," he added.

Meanwhile, Safiah Ibrahim, 49, came with 10 other friends -- eight women and two men -- from Bukit Mertajam to take part in the campaign.

"We hired a lorry to transport our bicycles while we drove here in two cars," she said.

Safiah said she was part of an all-women cycling group.

They cycle three or four times a week around Tasek Gelugor, Ara Kuda and Sungai Dua on the mainland.

They had no trouble finishing yesterday's ride as they are used to cycling more than 12km on their regular trips.

Since 2006, CAP has organised six bicycle campaigns in Penang, Alor Star, Ipoh, UUM campus and Kangar.

-NST Online