Cycle day @ Yelahanka Lake

by July 8, 2015 Environment

Last weekend’s Bangalore Cycle Day was held at the historical 350-acre Yelahanka Lake, in Yelahanka (near  Kogilu Cross international airport road).

Yelahanka Lake 

Organized by Yelahanka United Environment Association (YUVA) in partnership with Directorate of Urban Land Transport,  Government of Karnataka & BCOS on 5th July 2015, this Sunday morning event was supported by The Times of India, BBMP and Bangalore Police.    

Around 3000 cyclists, including school and college students participated in the event. Yelahanka MLA Mr SR Vishwanath joined the cyclists to complete the entire stretch of 6.5 km. Free cycle rentals were organised.  

Mr Venkate Gowda, a local resident at the event said, “I heard that for the first time cycling was going to be held within the lake area. So I came along with my daughter early in morning. We thoroughly enjoyed the cycle ride on the lake pathway. These events will not only help in last mile traffic reduction but will also sensitize the importance of conserving the dying Bengaluru lakes.’

The cycling rally was followed by cultural events and traditional games for the children and families on the street. Light breakfast was arranged at the venue.

The sky was a burst of colour with hundreds of kites being flown by the public. Traditional games included Chowka bhara, Kunte balle, Lagori, Marbles, Snakes and ladders, Top spinning, Chess, Gully cricket, Throw ball, Chess, Blindfold and hit the target, Balloon blast and Slow cycle race. 

Mr AB Shivakumar who happens to be the President of Jalasiri Pratistana in Yelahanka said “I have been in Yelahanka for over 40 years. It is refreshing to see cycle day organised in the historical Yelahanka Lake area. The kids enjoyed the cycling and kite flying. We need to popularize such community events”. 

The Yelahanka college students’ Dollu Kunitha troupes demonstrated Karnataka’s rich janapada culture. There were dance performances by the local children, a yoga demonstration, a cycle workshop by Sangam Cycles, free basic health checkup, slow motion dance by Mr Chetan and troupe and a magic show. Display of sports products by Decathalon and high end international bicycles display were added attractions. 

Pictures of the event 

Thanks to Mr Jagadeesh Giri, Jt Secretary, YUVA, for the information provided.  

 

Sections:

About Arathi Manay Yajaman

Arathi is a market researcher who loves to run and write. She has been actively involved in issues that affect citizens, including apartment management, waste management and lakes. She used to live in Mumbai and is now based in Bengaluru, working as a Community Anchor with Citizen Matters.
Read more by Arathi Manay Yajaman

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Similar Story

Where are the pollinators in Bengaluru?

by , , , , , and April 6, 2026 Environment
Despite the volumes of citizen-generated data on the city's biodiversity, pollinators who sustain the urban ecosystem do not seem to be getting their due attention.

Urban biodiversity is often discussed in terms of tree cover, lakes, or flagship species, but far less attention is paid to pollinators—the insects and birds that quietly sustain urban ecosystems. In Bengaluru, a rapidly urbanising city with a strong culture of citizen science, large volumes of biodiversity data are now being generated by the public. But what does this data tell us about pollinators in the city? This article draws from a data jam hosted by OpenCity in Bengaluru that explored pollinator observations using publicly available, citizen-generated datasets. By analysing long-term observation records and spatial data on land use and…

Continue reading

Similar Story

Beyond the parks and gardens, Bengaluru’s ‘wasteland’ ecosystems call for protection

by , , , , and March 17, 2026 Environment
Open Natural Ecosystems in Bengaluru harbour rich biodiversity. Take a look at what they hold and what we risk losing to unchecked development.

When we discuss urban nature, we often forget about real natural habitats. In Bengaluru, widely called the Garden City, most talks about urban nature focus on landscaped parks, roadside trees, and manicured gardens; in other words, artificial ecosystems designed for looks and human comfort. As lay citizens, we usually notice only such nature as we see around our homes, workplaces or other areas we generally pass by. While these places do have some ecological value, they mostly support a few highly adaptable species. This has strong negative implications for native flora and fauna that depend on open scrublands, grasslands, rocky…

Continue reading