Mangaluru : City Police Commissioner S. Murugan on Thursday urged members of Mangaluru Bicycle Club to be a part of the Traffic Safety Week to be observed by his department in the coming month.

He was speaking after launching the Car-Free Day T Shirt brought out by the MBC here. MBC has started the Car-Free Day movement on the second Saturday of last month and brought out the t-shirt with slogans about non-motorised transport to spread the message across the city.

Mr. Murugan said though Mangaluru does not have adequate infrastructure for non-motorised transport including walking and cycling, the MBC initiative is a positive step to reduce the carbon footprint.

He hoped that the movement gathers momentum in the coming months and more and more Mangalureans would opt for non-motorised transport in their daily life.

While the traffic safety week is observed more as a ritual by his department, Mr. Murugan said with the participation of committed MBC members, he hopes to make it a real one.

In the coming days, the department may examine to observe traffic safety weeks every month, he added.

Explaining the rationale behind the Car-Free Day movement, MBC founder Ganesh Nayak said the aim was to reduce the environmental pollution at least a bit by avoiding motor transport once in a month.

Kishan Bangera, another member, said many have opted for cycling for various reasons—conserving the environment, health, hobby etc.

The movement could go a long way in preserving the environment for the next generation, he said. Several MBC members were present.

This month’s Car-Free Day is scheduled on November 14.

MBC has said on that day, people are encourage to give up their personalised modes of transport — car and motorcycles — and use public transport, walk or cycle to undertake their daily routine.