A 40-year-old college teacher from Meghalaya has clocked over 40,000km on his bicycle to inspire young people to cycle for health, freedom of mobility and for the environment.
Pyniarlang Nongbri is an assistant professor in the Biotechnology department of St Anthony's College, Meghalaya.
Nongbri bought his first single-speed bike when he was at Jawaharlal National University (JNU). He would commute from his hostel to the university and also explore Delhi on his cycle.
During his four-and-half-year stay at Friedrich Schiller University in Jena, Germany, to earn his PhD on 'plant microbe interaction', Pyniar made it his life's mission to ride for health and for the environment.
Born in Mawnai village, Meghalaya, Nongbri earned his first bike when he was a kid. “I managed to ride 234 days last year. Thanks to the pandemic that gave me an opportunity to sneak out and I could go to far-off places avoiding contact with people and keeping myself safe from COVID-19,” Nongbri said.
Nongbri has never used a car or bus since his return from Germany in 2013 as he goes to and from work on his bike (bicycle) and even cycled to Tawang, Kaziranga, Darjeeling, Sikkim and other scenic locations.
“It is a fact that I love riding. It is a passion and the freedom to do my things at my own pace,” Nongbri said.
Nongbri said cycling has made him healthier and that it was fun to feel the cold breeze hitting his face.
The Meghalaya Cycling Association thanked Nongbri for influencing many young riders to take up cycling. The association has helped build cycling tracks at St. Antony’s College for safe riding.
“We want to express our gratitude to Pyniar Nongbri for his passion and love of cycling. We are moved by his commitment to cycling which has a beneficial effect on his health, his concerns for the environment and for being the reason for one less car on the road. We congratulate him on having completed 40,000km on his bike,” a spokesperson of the cycling association said.