A fitness freak, this cyclist is different

Eco-friendly Deputy Commissioner pedals around on weekends

DC Rahul Tiwari paddles his cycle in a street near his residence in Ludhiana.

Ludhiana, August 7
Do not just pass off a cyclist pedalling ahead of you as someone who cannot afford a motorcycle. He may be the Deputy Commissioner (DC), out on roads to check problems plaguing the industrial capital.
Deputy Commissioner Rahul Tiwari, a fitness freak, can easily be spotted cycling on weekends. He pedals nearly 10 km every weekend.
According to sources, the top bureaucrat of the city has already measured the length and breath of the city.
His cycle ride is not causing inconvenience to security guards of the IAS officer as he quietly sneaks away and merges with the crowd.
“I want to go to office on bicycle, but people will think that I want to grab media attention. I prefer to use my official vehicle to avoid controversy,” said the candid DC.
His endeavour has given a major source of encouragement to environmentalists, who have been campaigning against the chopping of trees in the city.
“He came to my shop today for refilling air in his cycle tyre. I recognised him and asked him if he was the DC. He smiled, nodded and pedalled away,” said Deep Chand, a cycle mechanic, who spotted and recognised the DC. Cycling was not a new fixation for the DC as he had been doing it for nearly a year, but kept his passion a secret.
“I believe that if residents switch to cycling for short-distance travel, half our traffic problems will be solved. Every member in the upper-middle class has a personal car and hits the road during peak hours, which adds to traffic,” said the administrator. His son, inheriting his habit, enjoyed to go on a cycle trip with his father. “Due to heavy traffic, I avoid taking my son to busy roads,” said the DC.