Janaki (Banke), 2 Magh(15 January): Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Nepal Police Sanjeev Sharma likes cycling more than driving. For the past six years, he has been mostly cycling for his daily life. Except for long-distance journeys in the districts where he works, he commutes by bicycle.
It has been six years since he has used the vehicle provided by the government for short distances, keeping in mind the issues of service facilities and safety. “I have not used the vehicle much since I started cycling,” he said. “These days, I prefer pollution-free bicycles to fuel-powered vehicles.” He often commutes from home to the market by bicycle. He does not consider any other vehicle as convenient as a bicycle these days.
Sharma, who started cycling in 2074 BS(2018), has been participating in cycling competitions organized in various districts. He is known as the policeman who rides a bicycle in the police department itself. Sharma, who started his working life as a police inspector in 2053 BS(1997), started cycling immediately after becoming a Superintendent of Police (SP). According to him, since he started cycling, his addiction-related problems have also been resolved. He also said that he has become a vegetarian since he became a bicycle ‘rider’.
Sharma, a 52-year-old Senior Superintendent of Police, currently serving as the Office Chief at the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi, says he was inspired to become a bicycle rider by world cyclist Pushkar Shahi. In 2077 BS(2021), he had cycled the 17,000-kilometer Mechi-Mahakali cycle journey with Shahi. According to Sharma, he has continued cycling. In 2078 BS(2022), he has completed more than 20 cycle journeys, including the 500-kilometer Kathmandu-Biratnagar, Tundikhel-Dhulikhel, Kathmandu-Kora, Tahara-Kora and Dharan-Biratnagar via ‘Tour di Thakurdwar’.
SSP Sharma says that after he started cycling, the family environment has become bicycle-based. “After some time since I started cycling, almost everyone in the house now rides a bicycle,” he said. “Since cycling is beneficial for both health and the environment, everyone in the family now has their own bicycle. Except for long distances, we have been cycling our daily lives.” Sharma has been riding a bicycle worth five lakh rupees.
Following SSP Sharma, who has successfully made a name for himself as a cyclist in the Nepal Police, 12 police officers have now started cycling. He says that he is very happy that other Nepal Police employees are also making a name for themselves as cyclists.
Like SSP Sharma, Police Inspector Rabindra Chand has also succeeded in creating a unique identity in the police organization by becoming a bicycle ‘rider’. Chand, from Baitadi Surnaya Rural Municipality-2, Sudurpaschim Province, started cycling three years ago. Chand says that cycling not only keeps us physically and mentally healthy, but also helps in promoting the environment and tourism. “By cycling, we are physically healthy and since we are traveling long distances in a peaceful environment, we can also capture all that natural environment on camera,” he said. “Posting the photos captured on the camera while riding on social media also helps in promoting the environment and tourism.”
After moving to Banke, Prani Chand, who is currently working at the Area Police Office, Thada Arghakhanchi, rides his bicycle for at least five to six hours a day, morning and evening, on the hilly roads of Arghakhanchi, whenever he gets time. He said that he had decided to become a cyclist during his IPS training in India. “My interest in cycling increased after participating in the IPS training,” he said. “Even though I saw many photos and videos related to cycling on digital media, the IPS training awakened in me the desire to become a bicycle ‘rider’.”
Like SSP Sharma and Prani Chand in the police organization, Deputy Inspector of Police Rabindra Bam Thakuri has been known in Banke for two years as a cyclist. Rabindra has so far ‘ridden’ a bicycle of 10,000 kilometers. Since he started cycling, he has also cycled distances of 100 to 115 kilometers. He cycled 100 kilometers in the ‘Kora Event Challenge 2024’ and 115 kilometers in the ‘Tour di Thakurdwar’ cycling event held in Thakurdwara, Bardiya last year.
Since he was a sports enthusiast even before joining the Nepal Police, he has a good understanding of how to live a healthy life. Having already earned a ‘black belt’ in karate, Pranani Bam knows that it is important to stay physically and mentally fit. Understanding that cycling helps in staying healthy, Bam spends his daily life cycling. He often commutes from home to office and to the market by cycling.
Bicycles are especially popular in the Terai regions. Generally, farmers and small traders ride bicycles as normal in the Terai. Recently, people’s passion for bicycles has been increasing in urban areas as well. People working in government or non-government offices have started giving priority to bicycles.
Cycling makes you healthy
Doctors say that there is a huge difference in the health of a person who cycles compared to a person who does not cycle. It is said that a person who cycles for 20 minutes a day is healthy. People of any age can ride a bicycle. There is no age group specified for riding it. Experts have called ‘cycling’ an exercise.
According to a report published in the British General, regular cycling can also save the lives of heart patients. According to the report, regular use of bicycles reduces cancer by 25 percent and heart disease by 46 percent. Walking can cure heart disease by 27 percent. Regular cycling can also reduce body weight. It helps reduce body fat. Daily use of bicycles helps the body increase its immunity. Senior physician Dr. Rajan Pandey says that people who cycle regularly also have a lower risk of depression.
Cycling daily improves blood circulation in the body. This supplies oxygen to the blood and improves blood circulation. This helps in controlling blood pressure. Regular cycling strengthens the muscles. Not only this, but cycling also provides relief from back and neck pain as it strengthens the bones in the back. In addition, the risk of death of these patients is reduced by 36 percent. It is not said that walking alone cures cancer or prevents cancer. The research included 264,377 people in the study, and their average age was 53 years.
Not only that, cycling for about 20 minutes a day burns thousands of calories, so it helps people lose weight to some extent. According to researchers, if a person cycles, he is changing his life. Cycling daily reduces the risk of breast and rectal cancer.
Recently, the number of patients with diabetes is increasing day by day. Doctors have told us that many people are at risk of this disease due to lack of physical exercise. However, a study conducted in Finland has shown that people who cycle for 30 minutes daily have a 40 percent lower risk of diabetes. Mental health conditions such as stress, anxiety, depression, and sadness can be reduced by regular cycling. Due to this exercise, people feel happy and can get rid of such mental stress.
