Bangladeshi Cyclists (Bengali: বাংলাদেশী সাইক্লিস্টস) or BDCyclists is a cycling group in Bangladesh. The group was started by Mozammel Haque, a software developer, and his friends in May 2011.[1][2] The group states, as one of their goals, that they aim to convert 5% of the car owning crowd of Dhaka to cycle commuters.[3]

Bangladeshi Cyclists
EstablishedMay 2011
FounderMozammel Haque
TypeCycling Group
PurposeCycling, Healthy lifestyle and Community service
Location
Websitebdcyclists.com

Overview edit

2013–2014 edit

In the past, the group has organized about three bicycle rides every week, titled Bike Friday, BDC Nightriders and Josshila Saturday.[4] About 250 cyclists would join in the Bike Friday event.[5] On January 24, 2014, BDCyclists organized its 100th Bike Friday.[6][7] It also organizes the Critical Mass, a cycling event that is held every month in 300 cities around the world.[3][4][8]

To promote cycling, BDCyclists has arranged cycling lessons every Saturday morning in Dhaka known as the BDCyclists Beginner's Lesson.[4][9] The group has also organized yearly rides to celebrate the national days such as the Independence Day (স্বাধীনতা দিবস),[10][11][12] Bengali New Year Day (পহেলা বৈশাখ)[13] and Victory Day (বিজয় দিবস).[14] It has also organized several social and community events throughout the country, such as the 64 Good Acts or the Eid Mubarak Ride.

During the "Eid Mubarak Ride" members of the group distributed gifts to the underprivileged, especially underprivileged children in Dhaka on the morning of Eid Day.[15]

2015–present edit

In 2021, the groups cycling team, TeamBDC, set a relay cycling world record, travelling 1,670 kilometers in 48 hours.[16]

As of 2022, the group's Facebook page consisted of one and a half lakh members.[17]

Longest single line of bicycles (moving) edit

BDCyclists was the holder of the Guinness World Records for 'Longest single line of bicycles (moving)' from 2016 to 2019.[18] BDCyclists made this record on December 16, 2016 (Victory day of Bangladesh), when 1,186 cyclists rode their bicycles in a continuous single line in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ BDCyclists. Available from http://bdcyclists.com. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  2. ^ Mark Beaumont (October 17, 2013). "Queen's Baton Relay: Reclaiming the streets of Dhaka". BBC News. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  3. ^ a b Hammadi, Saad (June 20, 2013). "The humble cycle making a comeback on Dhaka streets". The Guardian. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c "BDCyclists". Tunza Eco Generation. June 29, 2013. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  5. ^ ফেসবুকভিত্তিক সংগঠন বিডি সাইক্লিস্ট গ্রুপ (in Bengali). Zoom Bangla. September 19, 2013. Archived from the original on September 20, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  6. ^ Farhan, Raiyeem (January 30, 2014). "BDCyclists' 100th Bike Friday". The Daily Star. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  7. ^ "100th Bike Friday Celebrated: The Bicycle revolution taken to the next level". BdChronicle. January 29, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  8. ^ "More than 200 cyclists joined a 'Critical Mass' ride". The Daily Star. October 29, 2011. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  9. ^ "Learning the balancing act". The Daily Star. September 15, 2013. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  10. ^ "BDCyclists Independence Day Ride 2013". The Daily Star. March 26, 2013. Archived from the original on December 28, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  11. ^ মনোনীত সদসা বাড়ছে. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). March 27, 2014. Archived from the original on December 28, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  12. ^ "Photos of the Day: March 26, 2014". The Seattle Times. March 26, 2014. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
  13. ^ Amira Ehsan (April 10, 2014). পহেলা বৈশাখে "বিডি সাইক্লিস্ট" গ্রপের রগলি. Newsnext Bangladesh (in Bengali). Archived from the original on April 11, 2014. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
  14. ^ Rahman, Mizanur (December 21, 2013). "Victory Ride by BDCyclists". New Age. Archived from the original on April 16, 2014. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  15. ^ "Bringing joy to those who need it". New Age. August 17, 2013. Archived from the original on October 16, 2013. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  16. ^ Kabir, Rassiq Aziz (January 9, 2022). "Four Bangladeshis make world record cycling 1670 kilometres". The Financial Express. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  17. ^ Hakim, Aziz (June 3, 2022). "Would you consider cycling to work?". The Business Standard. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  18. ^ "Longest single line of bicycles (moving)". Guinness World Records. January 1, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2017.

External links edit