74-Year-Old Rekindles Bicycling For Healthy, Cheaper Living

News Desk

Islamabad: A man in his mid-70s is promoting cycling as a pleasant way to get fit and an active form of commuting at a time when health standards are declining as a result of a sedentary lifestyle.

Zaheerudin Khawaja, who celebrated his 74th birthday last month with a large group of fans, is adamant that cycling– also referred to as biking– is a popular leisure-time physical activity.

Sadly, our culture has evolved into one that depends heavily on vehicles, said Khawaja, adding that a sizable number of single-occupancy vehicles that go through our city arteries contribute to our environment’s pollution and increase our carbon footprint.

Surrounded by dozens of cyclists belonging to the Early Bird Riders (EBR), a group he formed to promote biking, Zaheerudin remarked, “I have a strong conviction that biking makes people healthy both physically and mentally, and is also necessary for emancipation.”

The Islamabad-based old young man (a moniker the age-defying Khawaja uses for himself) has registered hundreds of men and women with the EBR club, which also hosts volunteer bicycle rodeos in the Capital and other areas of the country to promote a clean environment. It uses social media channels to publicise cycling events which often happen on weekends.

Bicycling for transportation, such as commuting to work, provides the benefits of incorporating exercise into everyday life, reducing costs associated with driving a car or taking public transportation, and lessening road congestion and air and noise pollution, as seen in urban areas.

The cycling freak observed that in the West, efforts are being made to include bicycling into people’s daily routines by encouraging them to pedal to parks, markets, schools, or places of employment. However, it is primarily regarded in Pakistan as a means of transportation for sellers, gardeners and the lower classes, he further said.

Besides other factors, transportation plays a significant role in the earth’s warming today compared to a century ago. He opined, “I think we can save money and reduce carbon emissions by using non-motorised vehicles.”

Cycling is a very cost-efficient mode of transport for short journeys. Keeping an eye on fuel prices, Khawaja stated that given the current fuel prices, if anyone drives his vehicle for five to seven kilometres, it may cost around Rs 300 to Rs 400, depending on the type of vehicle one is driving.

If any proper research is conducted to tally the economic benefits of cycling in our country, we will come to know how much money could be saved by promoting this single habit, Zaheerudin added.

Health experts and researchers all over the world continue to link biking with improved fitness and lower risks of certain conditions. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that adults perform at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic physical activity, such as biking, every week.

According to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health website, health benefits include improved cardiovascular fitness, stronger muscles, greater coordination and general mobility, and reduced body fat. As with other types of exercise, it can also help improve mental health by lowering stress levels and stimulating feel-good endorphins.

Old young man urged for adequate infrastructure to give people peace of mind and assurance that they would be safer when travelling on the roads, even during rush hour.

Although Pakistan will undoubtedly have a long way to go before catching up to European countries like Denmark, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Germany, there are still lessons to be learned from them about how to increase cycling safety, comfort and convenience, 74-year-oldcyclist remarked.

Bicycling should have separate tracks and better traffic management to guarantee that those who choose this mode of transportation get to their destinations safely.

Then there is also the challenge of changing our mindset, as we always show off an air of magnificence due to class division, seeing anybody riding a bike with scorn, cyclist mentioned.

Therefore, it is crucial that elected representatives, wealthy, high-ranking government officials, academia and jurists step forward to revitalise this culture, Zaheerudin Khawaja remarked.