A “Day on Bicycles” without private vehicles was held in Ashgabat
A mass bike ride was celebrated in Turkmenistan today, to note 50 days before the opening of the Games “Ashgabat 2017”. The cyclo-cross in the capital was headed by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and about 8 thousand residents of Ashgabat took part in the large-scale action. It was possible to travel only on bicycles from 7 am to 7 pm on the roads of the capital. At the same time, public passenger transport worked in normal mode of operation. And, of course, the restriction was not applicable for all emergency services. The bike ride was held early in the morning, starting from the intersection of the avenues Chandybil and Kopetdag. Then the route ran along Bitarap Avenue to the main square where the State Tribune is located. The length of the route was 15 kilometers. The participants of the ride have included the Head of the country, students of universities, representatives of labor collectives, as well as heads and staff of foreign diplomatic missions. Even the indispensable participants in all events in the country - the honorary elders - expressed a desire to participate in this action, mounting the bicycles with a sedate dignity. Participants of the cyclo-cross throughout its length were inspired by artists who performed with songs and dances along the entire route. At the end of the bike ride, President Berdymukhamedov was presented with an accreditation certificate No. 1 and an invitation card for the opening ceremony and all the activities of the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, which will be held from 17th to 27th September this year. The Ashgabat Asian games promise to be unprecedented in many ways. Formerly the program of complex competitions included 16 kinds of sports, the calendar of the Games “Ashgabad 2017” has competitions in 21 disciplines. Also, the number of participating countries increased, which, with the accession of the countries of Oceania, reached 64 countries, plus the joint refugees team.
