Cycle City Network Nepal (CCNN) is excited to open its 2018 call for applications for new members!

Cycle City Network Nepal (CCNN) is an is non-profit youth network with a dedication to improve the quality of environment, health and infrastructures by promoting the use of eco-friendly means of transport, the bicycle. The aim of this group is to justify, influence and encourage people to do cycling and lend hands in policy making, infrastructure development for secure, reliable and attractive depiction of bicycles among the people of all ages and groups. It aims to develop cycling as a sustainable and viable means of urban transportation.

We are looking for young people who are passionate about sustainable transport and environment and are eager to further their experience through advocacy work.

CCNN is a member-driven organization; time commitment and availability is key to CCNN’s success. In addition to supporting our principles and values, we look for members who have enough time to meaningfully contribute to the work that we do (members are required to devote a minimum of 7 hours per week to CCNN’s activities, which includes responding to emails, contributing to online discussions and taking part in our planned activities).

Cycle City Network Nepal recognizes the contributions and crucial perspectives that individuals from marginalized communities bring to our team.

Desirable skills and competencies include:

Demonstrated leadership experience;
Experience in fund development including proposal writing and stakeholder engagement;
Experience in strategic planning, budgeting, and human resource management, designing reports;
Facilitation and public speaking skills;
Experience in information and communications technologies, graphic design.
Experience in organizing advocacy campaigns;
Experience advocating for environment and sustainable transport ; and
Experience with local/regional/international volunteer and/or youth organizations/networks.

With a purpose to open the membership of Cycle City Network Nepal, an online survey was conducted via social media during the month of September 2018. The results of the survey are graphically presented in the article below. The survey depicted that the membership to the organization be announced for interested members to connect in the advocacy, campaigning and programs of the Cycle City Network Nepal.

Critical Mass is a global movement of cyclists reclaiming the streets and showing the presence in bigger mass. Critical Mass Kathmandu monthly rides started since April 2013. The October edition of Critical Mass Kathmandu was dedicated to Late Dr. Pralad B. Yonzon. On 31st October, 2011 Dr. Prahlad B. Yonzon, a well-known wildlife biologist of Nepal met with an accident while cycling home from office.

On 26 October, 2018 with the theme of “Road safety in Nepal” we invite all the cyclists and non- cyclist people to show their concern by being visible. 

The Critical Mass Kathmandu meets at 5:30 PM on the last Friday of every month at Basantapur

The World Bicycle Forum (FMB) is the largest urban cycling event in the world that brings together citizens, groups and international networks of bike-activists and citizens interested in claiming the use of bicycles in public spaces, and how part of sustainable mobility in the city. It is a common good of encounter of the urban world cyclist culture characterized by its horizontality, collaborative relationships and volunteering. This event generates reflection and proposes proposals on: mobility, citizenship, planning, access and sustainability in order to positively impact the destiny of our cities. The forum is organized, designed, managed, carried out and maintained by bike-activists.

According to its creators the WBF began as an answer to an automobile driver deliberately colliding with around 20 cyclists that were participating in a Critical Mass event in Porto Alegre on February 25, 2011. The first edition of the WBF took place during the first anniversary of these events.

The WBF is composed of different events that include discussion panels with invited speakers, self-managed workshops, cultural activities including art and video exhibitions, artistic performances and several cycling events.

Beyond the discussion, the WBF tries to strengthen the social networks among participants from different cities and countries, to encourage permanent changes in the venue city and, through the sharing of experiences and practical workshops, to stimulate an immediate personal change of the participants.

The WBF has been held in the Brazilian cities of Porto Alegre (2012 and 2013) and Curitiba (2014). In 2015 Medellin, Colombia, was the first city outside of Brazil to host the event. The 2016 edition of the event took place in Santiago, Chile, from March 31 to April 05, 2016 and 2017 edition was held in Mexico City, Mexico April 19 to 23 2017, with the theme ‘Handmade Cities’. The 2018 edition was held in Lima, Peru February 22 to 26 where representatives from Nepal, Mr. Shail Shrestha and Mr. Sramdip Purkoti participated in the event and won the election to hold the forum in the year 2020 in Kathmandu, Nepal.

We also invite all the interested people, groups or organizations to be part of the team for WBF 2020. Please write to us at cyclecitynetworknepal@gmail.com

With a chance to fly to any destination in Europe, courtesy of Turkish Airlines a online photo competition was held during Kathmandu Kora Cycling Challenge 2018. Top 10 photographs amongst 68 entries were judged by Photo Kathmandu and the winner was selected by the highest number of likes in the facebook.

Amongst the top 10 finalist Mr. Bivek Shrestha received 4.4k likes in the facebook and won the Kathmandu Kora Cycling Challenge Photo Competition. Bibek Shrestha, winner of the #kora18 click2win won himself a ticket to anywhere in Europe sponsored by Turkish Airlines. 

In Buddhism and Hinduism a Kora is a circumambulation, done clockwise, usually around a religious structure. It is said that a single Kora around Mt. Kailash in Tibet for example is enough for one lifetime. Kathmandu, with its myriad religious structures is a perfect location to do a circumambulation. It boasts two of the most revered Buddhist Stupas of Boudha & Swayambhu, and one of the top eight temples for Hindus worldwide, Pashupatinath. This Challenge circumambulates the valley, clockwise, right at the edge of the valley, away from the hustle of the city, through small dirt trails passing by picturesque rural settings, raising money per km biked for a worthy cause.

Kora Cycling Challenge has become a name which every cycle enthuse feels proud to be part of. There are two reason to it, one get an opportunity to ride historical places around Kathmandu and second the riders raise fund for the causes. The challenge was started back in 2011 with 35 riders and this year the ride took place simultaneously in four different places i.e. Butwal, Pokhara, Hetauda and Dharan beside Kathmandu- supporting the need to raise funds for the Narayan Gopal Fund – and also to help build the cycling communities via this mass ride. 

The main organisers of this event in Kathmandu are Socialtours and Kathmandu Cycle City 2020, Cycle City Network Nepal, supported by outdoor event partners Pangro. This is supported by various organizations, volunteers, clubs, and companies. Three different categories i.e. 50km, 75km and 100km was challenge for the riders in which this year’s challenge saw participation of 2213 cyclist in Kathmandu itself.

Eight years ago, the seed of promoting adventure sport supported crowdsourcing for social good was born in the form of Kathmandu Kora. Over the years with charitable assistance from fellow riders and supporters, Kathmandu Kora was able to complete various projects that brought huge benefits to the local communities. Resources raised from Kora 2011 were used to upgrade schooling facilities at Samata School and OCCED.

Subsequent funds were then used, with the technical support of Save the Children Alliance, to upgrade a birthing center at Rukum and a Health Post in Dolakha. Funds contributed to Kora 2013 were used to build a completely new birthing center in Baitadi. Similarly pledges from 2015 was used to build a health post at Makaibari in Dolakha, post the devastating Earthquake. Over the years the cycling fraternity has made its presence felt in local communities. To date, over Rs. 50,00,000 has been invested in social causes. In 2017, the last edition had over 2500 riders raising over Rs. 500,000 for the Bungamati Trails Initiative – the first ever attempt to create a cycling destination in Nepal! Funds are currently being utilised by the Initiative to build and mark trails, and work on the other requirements of a cycling destination!

This year Kathmandu Kora Cycling Challenge 2018 called for a proposal for a cause to support during the 2018 ride and raise funds through pledges subsequently. The cause to support could Team Kora – judged on ingenuity, clarity and marketability of the cause and two causes were selected.

This year, three causes have been selected to fund-raise for :-

#Ladies Mountain League – which is trying to empower women through adventure sports. Details at www.ladiesmountainleague.com

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#Survivor Nepal – which provides a cash incentive to earthquake safe housing. Details at www.the-survivors.org

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#Narayan Gopal Fund – aimed to help the family of National Cyclist Late Narayan Gopal Maharjan, who met with an unfortunate accident while racing in Sri Lanka.

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On 14 July 2018, Cycle City Network Nepal(CCNN) held its 4th Annual General Meeting at HUB, Thamel. This day was marked to handover leadership to the new formed committee. Meeting was held in the presence of CCNN’s past members and beloved guest.

Mr. Sailendra Dongol, newly appointed president for the term 2018-2020 presented upcoming plans and programs for CCNN. He also introduced new board members for this term. Former president and treasurer, Mr. Shail Shrestha and Mr. Chakshu Bikram Malla respectively presented reports on past activities and finances.

Guest Attendees

• Mr. Pushkar Shah, World Cyclist & Mt. Everest Summiteer
• Mr. Bhushan Tuladhar, Technical Director, UN- Habitat
• Mr. Rajendra Thapa, VP, Tour de Lumbini
• Mr. Prakash Dhakwa, President, Chepang Mtb Club
• Mr. Juju Kaji Maharjan, President, Heart Beat
• Mr. Som Rana, Urban Planner
• Ms. Usha Titikshu, first woman photojournalist of Nepal
• Mr. Hari Kumar Silwal, VP, ACAN
• Mr. Raj Gyawali, MD, Social Tours
• Mr. Ratna Ram Shrestha, President, Nepal Cycle and Wheelchair Society
• Ms. Jenny Caunt, Himalayan Single Track

All of the invited guests welcomed the new board and give their word of advice to the team.

New appointed board for the term 2018-2020

1. Mr. Sailendra Dongol, President
2. Mrs. Dristy Shrestha, Secretary
3. Nivesh Dugar, Vice President
4. Mr. Gaurav Shrestha, Treasurer
5. Diwash Lal Pradhan
6. Chakshu Bikram Malla
7. Sweta Pandey
8. Greeshma Pradhan
9. Khasing Chandra Rai
10. Prashant Khanal
11. Samir Maharjan
12. Dharma Nagarkoti
13. Shishir Raj Joshi
14. Shail Shrestha, Immediate Past President