Though World bicycle day is celebrated in Kashmir like several other parts of the country but the tourism department in Jammu & Kashmir could have used it as an event for introducing cycle tourism in Jammu & Kashmir the way it has been introduced in many European countries. Top helmsmen in tourism department may or may not be knowing it that Germany and England are the biggest source markets for cycling tourism in the world . While the demand for cycle tourism is increasing in both England and Germany because of the fact separate cycling track have been built for cycling tourist in these countries the tourism department of Jammu & Kashmir is not even thinking about it’s introduction in Jammu & Kashmir because of the fact the top helms of the department don’t even know about importance of separate cycling tracks for cycling tourists. Cycling is a source of attraction not only for adventure tourism but also for health and physical fitness of the youth. Never forget that cycling gives travelers a sense of freedom and flexibility as it is for a cyclist to decide when and how to bike for reaching a desired destination on a leisure day. Cycling tourism can be a source of greater attraction for youth than the people of higher age groups. Cycling is of four kinds and largely includes road Cycling, mountain cycling and cycling at picnic spots which in Kashmir are mostly tourist destinations. Obviously youth, by all standards of understandabilities, could be the target groups for cycling tourism in Jammu & Kashmir as youth are often more active cyclists than the elderly people. Though elderly people have enough free time to go on cycling trips but unfortunately they are not physically fit for cycling anywhere in the country and more so in Kashmir. To promote the habit of cycling for health and physical fitness among youth it would be better for the government and all other stake holders to involve children of all age groups in the cycling activities in schools.
While short distance cycling can be good for health and physical fitness of children of all age groups, the longer duration cycling could be could a major source of attraction for cycling tourists in Kashmir who like cycling on scenic routes and mountainous areas in the vicinity of forests. So cycling in Kashmir can be as good for health and physical fitness of children of all age groups as it could be for the cycling tourists.
Schools organise cycle race events in twin capital cities-Srinagar and Jammu but very rarely and if introduced in schools of towns and villages also the cycling could become a major extracurricular activity for children of all age groups in Jammu & Kashmir. Never forget that cycling is a high-intensity exercise for which high-calorie meals are advisable. While short distance cycling ranging between 15 and 25 kms is good for youth, long distance cycling ranging from 30 to 200 Kms could be ideal for the experienced professional cyclists. While short distance cycling can be good for health and physical fitness of children of all age groups, the longer duration cycling could be could a major source of attraction for cycling tourists in Kashmir who like cycling on scenic routes and mountainous areas in the vicinity of forests. So cycling in Kashmir can be as good for health and physical fitness of children of all age groups as it could be for the cycling tourists.
