Bike riding initiative gains momentum

Damascus, SANA – Bike riding initiative seems to gain momentum in terms of increased activities that aim at encouraging people to rely on bicycles as a means for inter-city transportation given their various health and environment-related advantages.

The initiative, which started unofficially almost a year ago by a team of volunteer young men and women, is acquiring increasing importance amid the heavy traffic that many areas across the country have come to suffer from in the aftermath of the crisis and the intensive displacement movement it generated.

Some 50 volunteers set off earlier today on a bike tour from al-Umawyeen Square in Damascus and reached Victoria Bridge before their returned back to the Square.

The participants see bike riding might well help in reducing the citizens’ increasing daily life burdens, with the initiative organizer Maan al-Hemmeh saying in a statement to SANA that it also aims at “keeping Syria’s environment clean and healthy as well as keeping its people sportive.”

Today’s tour followed another one that took place yesterday where the participants took routes inside Damascus city starting from al-Sabki Park and passing Arnous Square, al-Sabaa Bahrat Square, Baghdad Street, Bab Touma Square, Bab Sharqi, al-Ameen Street, al-Buzouriyeh Souq and by Damascus Citadel to go back again to al-Sabki Square.

Last month, a bike tour brought together up to 500 participants and was carried out in Damascus within the initiative, which had recently been embraced by the Syrian Enterprise and Business Center (SEBC), henceforth it has been carrying out its activities officially.

Haifa Said