Wheelie fun: Myanmar celebrates World Bicycle Day

Cyclists from around Myanmar took to the streets today for a little celebration of the two-wheeled kind — World Bicycle Day.

Hundreds of cycling enthusiasts in Yangon, Bago, Loikaw, Myeik and Mawlawmyine took to the streets, with participants here in Yangon doing a full two laps of the city’s Kandawgyi Park. Sadly, no reports of anyone taking to the legendarily empty streets of Naypyidaw, an egregious missed opportunity.

And in case you’re wondering, yes, World Bicycle Day is, in fact, an actual day. It was designated as such by the UN General Assembly last year, as a way to celebrate what it called a “simple, affordable, reliable, clean and environmentally fit sustainable means of transportation.”

Granted, we suspect there’s a UN day for fresh-baked bread, but that takes nothing away from the stalwart efforts of Polish academic and former member of the Polish national cycling team Leszek J. Sibilski, who spent four years lobbying to make the day a reality.

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In a video by 2 Wheel Owners Cycling Group Mawlamyine Myanmar, locals in Mawlamyine in Southern Myanmar spoke about the benefits of bicycle-riding and the joy they get from the experience.

“When I ride the bike, I feel proud and happy,” Ko Soe Naing said with a smile.

Ko Sein Htun, another cyclist, said that beyond being good for your physical health (to say nothing of the environment), cycling is simply straight-up smile-inducing fun.