The thumb rule to judge the success of any rally is to count the number of people attending it. When it comes to cycle rally, it is the number of cyclists but it is a Herculean task for the organisers to make the rally a success as bicycles are hardly used by the college-goers.
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) apparently faced similar hardship when it organised such a rally in the city. And it brought fortune to some petty traders who rent bicycles.
TDP leader Devineni Avinash hired about 200 bicycles for the activists and college-goers to take part in the rally.
Decorated with the Telugu Desam flags
As the rally was set to start at 10 a.m. at the NTR Circle, bicycles were seen being unloaded from trucks on the Pantakaluva road. Meanwhile, the college students poured in in autos and other vehicles.
Within no time, the cycles were distributed. And they were decorated with the Telugu Desam flags and placards with slogans on the three-year rule of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
Mr. Avinash said, “More than 60 students came on their bicycles though we have hired 200 cycles. The TDP admirers provided them.” Every college-goer has a bike. So, it was easy to organise a bike rally than a cycle rally. But we were determined to conduct this rally as cycle is our party symbol, he said.
The cyclists whizzed past the lanes as soon as Vijayawada (East) MLA Gadde Rammohan Rao flagged off the rally. The sounds — tring tring — almost a thing of the past came alive with the cyclists competing and overtaking one another and in ringing the bells. Every volunteer carried the yellow flag and the rally route reverberated with slogans in praise of Mr. Naidu.
Avinash leads from front
The rally did not remain a ritual. Mr. Avinash set off at the head of others, mostly college students, towards the A Convention Centre. He cycled his way through the Polyclinc Road, Mother Theresa Junction and ended the rally near the Convention Centre.
The mudguards of cycles with markings — PVK 09, MKR 22, PDR 25, SBC 06 and BVN 36 — drew the attention of the passers by as the concept of rent cycles is almost on the verge of extinction.
Barring areas like Ranigarithota, there are no cycle taxis in the city.
