ISLAMABAD: A man in his mid-seventies encourages cycling as a pleasing method to get fit and an active form of transportation when health standards are declining due to a sedentary lifestyle.
Zaheerudin Khawaja, who celebrated his 74th birthday last Sunday with many fans, is adamant that riding is still a valuable form of exercise. “Unfortunately, our society has become reliant on automobiles. There are a lot of single-occupancy cars driving around our cities, increasing their carbon footprint and damaging the environment, the cycling nut claimed.
“I have a strong conviction that cycling makes people healthy both physically and mentally, being also necessary for emancipation,” said Khawaja, accompanied by dozens of cyclists belonging to Early Bird Riders (EBR) – a club he formed to encourage cycling. The “old young man” of Islamabad, as the age-defying Khawaja refers to himself, has signed up hundreds of men and women with the EBR club, which also organizes volunteer bicycle rodeos throughout the nation to support a clean environment. It uses social media channels to publicize bicycle events, which often happen on weekends.
“Switching to cycling will help women be more receptive to social cues. The strength of two wheels will ultimately contribute to women’s empowerment, Khawaja said, who has taught cycling to 200 “sheroes” (a term he developed for female EBR bikers and children between the ages of 8 and 12). In the West, Khawaja observed, efforts were being made to integrate cycling into people’s daily lives by encouraging them to pedal to parks, shops, schools, or places of employment. However, it is primarily regarded in Pakistan as a means of transportation for sellers, gardeners, and the lower classes.
This is pitiful. Indeed, they are social taboos that must be broken. We should persuade individuals to choose to ride over using their cars for short distances. Regarding global warming, he remarked, “It will be a positive omen for our health and the environment of the earth. “The modifications are already visible. In addition to other considerations, transportation has a significant role in the earth’s warming today compared to a century ago. He continued that using non-motorized transportation can save money and minimize carbon emissions.
With regard to gasoline costs, Khawaja notes that, depending on the type of car being driven, a trip of five to seven kilometers might cost as much as Rs 300 to Rs 400 at the present fuel prices. “For short distances, cycling is a relatively economical means of transportation. If we move from short drives to bicycles, think of how much money we may save each month,” he remarked. If a thorough analysis of the economic advantages of cycling in our nation is done, we will learn just how much money may be saved by encouraging this single practice.
Health professionals recommend cycling for fitness
Once we switch to this active form of commuting, at least for short trips, “we can reap its benefits both individually and as a nation,” he said. “When I say this, I don’t mean for people to give up their cars in favor of bicycles completely. I’m not requesting that they give up their vehicles on every trip. I want people to include riding into their daily lives as a minor shift. According to health professionals and studies worldwide, cycling has long been associated with greater fitness and a reduced chance of developing certain illnesses. The World Health Organization (WHO) advises adults to engage in moderate aerobic exercise, at least 150 minutes per week, such as cycling.
Khawaja emphasized turning to the cycle when individuals start facing certain health concerns, saying, “When in doubt, peddle it out.” “As you age, particularly as you enter your middle years, many health problems like heart disease, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, depression, and anxiety start manifesting. But cycling frequently can ward off these health risks, he continued. Khawaja pushed for the creation of adequate infrastructure to give people peace of mind and assurance that they would be safer when traveling on the roads, even during rush hour.
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