Pedalling legacy: This bicyclist paints the town ‘green’

Ludhiana: A 57-year old cyclist is on a ‘legacy green’ mission. On a lazy Sunday ‘quarantine-at-home’ day, when most stayed indoors, he took advantage of the empty roads and biked around the city planting saplings grown from the trees planted by his father.
“My papa, Mohinder Singh, who passed away in 2012, had planted a mulberry tree outside our workplace. From its fruits the seeds sprout and new plants grow. I had placed those tiny saplings into polybags for them to grow. After around two years, these plants are ready for re-plantation. Thought of planting these on my favorite riding route, starting from Jodhan Sarabha bridge up to bridge near Jassowal to Kila Raipur, where I can watch them growing and can take care of them too,” said Hapreet Singh, a businessman from Dugri Phase Two. “Today morning I started from one end and returned home after covering nearly 45km. Along the way, I ventured into new kutcha paths along the fields and can say today definitely was lovely day for cycling.” He added that he does grow fruits and vegetables at home and has deep love for nature.
The cyclist, who holds the distinction of participating in MTB Shimla for four consecutive years from 2014, said during lockdown when he couldn’t go for cycling he really missed the activity. He advocated that cycling being an immunity buster as well as a good de-stressing exercise, more people should take it up during this time.
Recalling his journey, Harpreet said when he was in the third standard, he had a bet with his father that if he topped in examination in his class he would have to get him a bicycle. “That was the beginning of my love for bicycles and cycling. These days I love to bike through countryside.”
“Mostly, I go alone. However, on Sundays I do go for cycling with some friends,” said Harpreet.