Pathari (Morang), Nov 28: Elderly means a retired life and needs more home rest and care. However, Padam Bahadur Sunam of Urlabari in Morang is so much active in his 90s that he carries out household chores with the help of a bicycle. Riding a bicycle to nearby market to purchase essentials is a daily routine for the 92-year-old.

But doing more strength-required task is his own choice. He does not wish to remain indoors all day long—reading religious books and meeting with relatives, a means of passing time during old age—as per the request of his family members.

He never misses any village assemblies in the locality. “My feet and the whole body ache if I stay inactive longer in a place. So I want to ride a bicycle,” he said, adding that he started riding a bicycle since he was 25.

Originally born in Khawa-3 of Bhojpur, he alongside his family descended to Urlabari in 2035 in search of better facilities. He has changed a dozen bicycles in his life so far.

He also wants to take stock of the situation around the locality through a bicycle ride, apart from health benefit. Like other cyclists demanding separate cycle lanes, Sunam also demands so, arguing that there might be an accident risk particularly for those aging cyclists like him in the absence of a separate cycle lane.

“The number of vehicles and people’s population are increasing by the day. But roads are yet to be expanded. So separate cycle lanes are needed to minimise road accidents,” he said.

“Bicycle is my friend. I cannot stay any longer without riding it,” he said. RSS