GUWAHATI, Nov 17 - With the vision of making Guwahati a cycling and walking-friendly city by 2030, a concerned group of individuals have constituted a forum �Guwahati Active Mobility Forum (GAMOF)� to promote cycling as a safe, accessible and aspirational mode of transport.
The forum will act as an interest, pressure group, active citizens� group and a civil society organisation to create awareness for the need of safe cycling and walking infrastructure in the city.
To create awareness for the same, GAMOF will be regularly organising activities like open street, cycle rides and races, road safety campaigns and workshops in different parts of the city.
�We will be engaging with various stakeholders like � government departments, organisations, educational institutions, commercial establishments, residential apartments, hotels and restaurants, hospitals, cyclists etc�, said Arshel Akhtar, �Bicycle Mayor� of Guwahati and co-founder of �Pedal for a Change�.
�We have a dedicated team comprising �Bicycle Councillors� and �Bicycle Ambassadors� who will work under the leadership of the �Bicycle Mayor� of Guwahati for the purpose. We also have an esteemed panel of advisors and mentors to advise us on our mission,� he added.
The �Bicycle Councillors� are a team of change-makers who will take up leadership roles at the ward level to promote cycling among all sections of the society. It is an honorary, voluntary and non-political position given to an individual for a tenure of two years.
Guwahati is the third city after Bengaluru and Mumbai to have �Bicycle Councillors�.
�With the number of cardiovascular and lifestyle-related diseases on the rise, walking and cycling are two of the most preferred active mobility options. Also the two go a long way as sustainable options in reducing carbon footprint, traffic congestion and countering the effects of climate change�, �Bicycle Mayor� Arshel Akhtar said.
�Prioritising these will help achieve 11 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. These also have the potential to reduce the growing number of traffic accidents and resultant fatalities. During the lockdown, a large section of Guwahatians were seen embracing cycling in their daily lives, be it as a mode of transport or just to take care of their health�, he added.
