MPSJ to promote cycling for health

AS PART of an initiative to promote a healthy lifestyle, the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) will be organising the Cycle for a Healthy Life MPSJ 2011 programme.

“Cycling is becoming popular these days, but most people do not have a chance to cycle properly as traffic on roads can be dangerous,” said MPSJ acting president Abdullah Marjunid at a press conference recently.

“This has made most people limit their cycling to housing areas or parks. “By having this programme, we’re giving an opportunity to participants to experience riding on the streets, with proper safety measures implemented,” he said. Ready to ride: Abdullah (in red, on mountain bike) and cycling team members all geared up for their first ride.

He added that apart from promoting a healthy lifestyle, it would also help foster unity and raise awareness on pollution caused by motorised vehicles. The activity will be held on every last Sunday of the month, incorporating a 10 to 15km route, and is open to participants aged 12 and above. The first event will take off from the MPSJ Sports Complex in USJ 5 at 7.30am.

“For the first three months from April to June, we will be having the activities at Subang Jaya constituency, followed by Kinrara, Seri Kembangan and Serdang,” said Abdullah. Interested participants need only show up with their bikes at the venue as no registration is required. Currently only roadbikes and mountain bikes are allowed.

Participants must also wear safety helmets and proper attire. “Staff will be stationed along the cycling route to direct traffic and lend assistance to cyclists. “If participants get tired halfway, there will also be a patrol vehicle to fetch the riders and their bikes to the starting point,” said Abdullah.

Lending their support to the programme are former national cyclists M.Kumaresan and Musairi Musa, who will be joining the event along with members from cycling clubs around Selangor, including the MPSJ Cycling Club, Ciclista Cycling and Bukit Jelutong Cycling Club.