By Maitreyee Boruah
Bangalore, Dec 15 (IANS) We all know cycling is eco-friendly. But how about a ‘green’ bicycle to take the eco-friendly mode of transport a step further?

That is what a Bangalore cycling enthusiast will do - ride a cycle handcrafted from bamboo to promote the ‘green’ cause.

Vijay Sharma, a Bangalore-based designer, will ride his handcrafted cycle all the way to Ooty, the hill station in the Nilgiris in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, 900 km away from this tech hub.

Sharma, 32, is a product of Ahmedabad-based Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology. He now stays in Bangalore.

He is joining 69 other cycling enthusiasts who will, however, ride regular bicycles. The 70 are pedalling off from here Dec 16.

Sharma’s bicycle “is made from bamboo, replacing 3.5 kg of steel tubes traditionally used in the manufacture of bicycles”.

“The bicycle has internationally accepted grade components,” he told IANS.

“The bicycle is a reflection of my interest in cycling and the desire to use clean transport,” he said.

Sharma’s cycle cost him Rs.10,000. He hopes to rope in a manufacturer for mass production.

He, however, says it is too early to compare the cost of a mass produced bamboo cycle to a regular one.

“Sharma will lead the 69 riders on the cycling tour as a symbol of their effort to encourage cycling and adopt green means of transport that has a lower carbon impact on the environment,” said Arun Katiyar, a member of RideACycle Foundation, the group organising the event.

Bangalore-based RideACycle Foundation is a not-for-profit advocacy group promoting sustainable transport, responsible travel and environmentally and socially responsible bicycling opportunities.

The eight-day tour of the Nilgiris will pass through Bangalore, Mysore, Hassan, Mercara, Irupu and Sultanbathery before ending in Ooty. Sponsored by TI Cycles of India, this is the second edition of the tour.

Sharma is participating for the first time.

Commenting on the hand crafted bamboo bicycle, Rajesh Mani, general manager of marketing of TI Cycles said: “We encourage and recognize the spirit of innovation. We see Sharma’s efforts as a step which could help create bicycle options that are suited for Indian conditions.”

(Maitreyee Boruah can be contacted at m.boruah@ians.in)