The Ministry of Environment has decided to promote the use of bicycles. Accordingly, attention has been paid to provide a promotional benefit to employees who come to work on bicycles.
According to the Ministry of Environment, the promotion will focus on reducing air pollution, controlling non-communicable diseases and fuel crisis.
Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister of Environment states that a Cabinet Memorandum has been prepared to take necessary steps to promote the use of bicycles.
It is also proposed to set aside a lane for bicycles on every road and to introduce a regulatory program to provide certain promotional benefits to cyclists coming from institutions affiliated to the Ministry of Environment.
A survey has revealed that the government has to spend Rs. 103.56 per kilometer on fuel for one vehicle traveling on the road during traffic jams, the Minister said.
The profit of the government is Rs. 339.98 per kilometer as the use of bicycles does not cost money for fuel, the Minister said.
