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

Notes from the field: Why Begur Lake is losing its waterbirds

by , , , , and October 8, 2026 Environment
71% of waterbirds at Begur Lake are declining. A visit to one of Bengaluru’s rapidly deteriorating lakes shows what's causing the collapse.

During the Open City biodiversity datajam held in December 2025, our group examined the ecological trends around Bengaluru’s lakes. Our analysis suggests a majority of waterbirds are declining across the city's lakes. Earlier, we addressed crucial questions on how migrant and resident waterbirds are surviving across 14 of Bengaluru’s lakes, how the shape of the lakes influence microhabitats, and how a scoring system can be used to record the decline in lake quality and bird populations. The last of our four-part series turns its attention to an individual site. As part of this study of waterbirds in 14 city lakes,…

Continue reading

Similar Story

Bengaluru lakes are changing, and birds are paying the price

by , , , , and October 7, 2026 Environment
From disappearing reedbeds to altered shores, here is why some of the city's lakes are thriving while others face ecological collapse.

While bird detection trends over the years clearly point to the decline of Bengaluru’s shoreline and vegetated-edge habitats, numbers alone tell only part of the story. In Part 3 of this four-part series on the state of the city's waterbirds, we have used a scoring system to understand how stressed the lakes and the microhabitats within the lake are, based on the bird diversity they support. We explore how lake shape, permanent inundation and shifts in citizen-led management might explain why some lakes may thrive as wetlands while others collapse.  For instance, at Kasavanahalli, the Pied Kingfisher and the Coot…

Continue reading