The state information agency TDH reports that on Sunday, 3 June, the World Bicycle Day established by the UN on the initiative of President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov was held in Turkmenistan.
In honour of this day large-scale bike rides bringing together public sector employees, students and schoolchildren were held across the country.
It has been previously reported that on that day at request of Ashgabat residents, the capital would be cordoned off and all vehicles would be denied accessas part of the environmental campaign .
The bicycle race brought together the President, members of the government, officials of embassies, the President of the Russian Cycling Federation and a three time Olympic gold medalist Vyachelav Yekimov, who had previously put forward the idea to hold the World Cycling Championship in Turkmenistan in 2019 and the CEO of the construction company AREI Igor Makarov.
The head of the state arrived to the start line of the bike race in a sports car.After riding 8,5 kilometers and escorted by other participants, Berdymukhammedov said good-bye and proceeded to the race track “to add a practice race to the sports part of the weekend”, according to the state information agency TDH.
Correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” report that the authorities started preparing for the Bicycle Day a week ahead of the events.
“Protocol” avenues Bitaraplyk (formerly, Podvoiskaya street) and Garashsyzlyk (Sovetskaya street) were cordoned off. Cleaners mopped the asphalt and public utilities workers renewed road marking and painted numerous posts.
Roads were cordoned off, even for public transport access, which caused sudden changes in the routes of municipal buses.
Radio “Azatlyk” reports that the participants of the bicycle race were obliged to purchase bicycles and sports equipment at their own expense.
According to Azatlyk source, a bicycle now costs 700 to 900 mants. Moreover, a sports outfit, which costs 150 to 200 manats, needs to be purchased.
However, the participants of bike races claim it is impossible to buy a bicycle and accessories on your own. The executives, who as a rule buy equipment at a higher price, collect money from subordinates.