Lahad Datu cyclists to request for car-free day

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LABUAN: Cyclists in Lahad Datu will request for a car-free day and a cycling lane.

Members of the Lahad Datu Cycling Association will submit a memorandum of these two requests to the Head of State.

The association’s president, Hj Sulaiman Kasuari, disclosed this after he led nine of his members on a cycling tour around Labuan on Saturday.

When asked to elaborate, he said the memorandum was to request for a day in each month in Lahad Datu where no vehicles would be allowed on the road like what was done in Kuala Lumpur.

“We do hope this kind of thing would be allowed in Lahad Datu first before it is implemented throughout Sabah. We are also requesting for a cycling lane to be built in Lahad Datu.

“They have one in Kota Kinabalu stretching for 8km around Tanjung Lipat,” he said.

On the cycling tour, Sulaiman said they travelled on their vehicles from Lahad Datu to Kota Kinabalu before riding their bicycles to Menumbok on Friday, where they boarded a ferry at Menumbok to proceed to Labuan.

“We reached Labuan around 12.40pm pedaling at under 20 km per hour. The journey was interesting as we met many cyclists around Kota Kinabalu and they shared with us some information for our journey here,” he said.

Sulaiman added they named their cycling tour “Merdeka Cycling” in conjunction with Merdeka Day, while at the same time promoting the association to the people.

“This is our first long-distance expedition on bicycles outside Lahad Datu district and we were inspired by a cyclist from Johore who previously cycled from Tawau to Kuching in 14 days for his Borneo Tour on bike. Before this, we have cycled to Tawau, Kunak, Kinabatangan and Tungku,” said the teacher of SK Payang, Lahad Datu.

Sulaiman also disclosed that they would be organising another cycling activity after this to honour the Head of State.

The cyclists managed to tour around Labuan Island and stayed overnight before leaving for Menumbok on the 6am roll on/roll off (roro) ferry. They left Labuan yesterday.

One of the cyclists, Nurwan Shah, said that it was all due to good teamwork and good management that helped them to reach Labuan.

He said their association would be holding a cycling competition on September 20 at Om Hill in Lahad Datu. He also said that their association could be accessed at Facebook under Persatuan Berbasikal Lahad Datu.