“When you cycle, you create neither noise pollution nor air pollution. You move slowly enough to hear the birds, feel the mountains, and genuinely connect with the environment around you.”
For Sundaram Tiwari, this is not only a belief. It is a philosophy that has influenced the last four years of his life.
On 7 April 2022, the then 27-year-old social activist from Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh set off on a bicycle with a goal to encourage people to think differently about the environment. He had no major sponsors backing him, no support vehicle following behind, and no guarantee of what lay ahead. What he did have was conviction.
Over the next 14 months, he travelled nearly 18,000 kilometres across India, cycling through mountains, forests, deserts, cities and villages. He also survived a violent robbery, spent days in a hospital bed, witnessed environmental degradation up close, and met hundreds of people who strengthened his faith in collective action.
The journey ended in June 2023.
But the mission did not.
Today, at 31, he is helping drive a movement that is encouraging government officials in Uttar Pradesh to choose bicycles over cars for short commutes. Through his ‘Cycle to Office’ initiative, around 250 forest department officials have already participated, proving that environmental action can begin with something as ordinary as the journey to work.
For the environmentalist, the story is not about bicycles alone. It is heavily about changing mindsets.
“In many countries, cycling is respected,” he says. “In India, if somebody rides a bicycle, people often assume that person is poor. That perception needs to change. A bicycle is one of the most environmentally friendly forms of transport in the world. It saves fuel, reduces pollution and improves health. Why should that not be respected?”
The thought that followed him everywhere
Long before he became known for cycling across India, Sundaram was balancing his business with social work in Uttar Pradesh. For years, he watched environmental problems mount around him, until he could no longer look away.
On 7 April 2022, the then 27-year-old social activist from Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh set off on a bicycle.
Wherever he travelled, he saw signs of a growing crisis.
Rivers were becoming increasingly polluted. Trees were being felled for roads and construction projects. Noise pollution had become so common that most people barely noticed it anymore.
At the same time, he felt that conversations about environmental conservation remained disconnected from ordinary people.
“We talk about protecting the environment, but many people think it is somebody else’s responsibility. They believe it is the government’s job or an environmentalist’s job, but every citizen has a role to play in protecting nature,” he tells The Better India.
He began searching for a way to take that message directly to people. The answer arrived in the form of a bicycle.
“When you travel slowly, people stop and speak to you,” he says. “If I had travelled by car, very few people would have noticed me. But when a young person is cycling across the country, people become inquisitive. They ask questions.”
Those questions, he realised, could become conversations. And those conversations could become opportunities for change.
India through the eyes of a cyclist
With every turn of the pedals, the world around him grew larger. Over the next 14 months, he cycled nearly 18,000 kilometres through Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Bihar.
Travelling by bicycle changed the way he experienced the country.
“When you are cycling, you notice everything,” he says. “You hear birds in the forest. You notice the condition of the rivers. You feel every climb in the mountains. You become connected to the environment in a way that is impossible when travelling in a car.”
Some days tested his willpower.
There were long stretches of highway beneath a relentless sun. There were challenging mountain roads that demanded every ounce of strength. There were days when exhaustion felt overwhelming. Those obstacles also brought moments of unforgettable beauty.
“Sometimes, I would stop just to listen to the birds, the wind rustling through the trees and the silence of the mountains. Moments like those reminded me why protecting nature matters,” he recalls. The slower pace also allowed him to witness environmental issues up close.
“The biggest concern is that environmental damage is becoming normal,” he says. “People see trees being cut and stop reacting. They see pollution and stop questioning it.” He became particularly concerned about the lack of accountability surrounding compensatory plantation drives.
“We often hear promises that several trees will be planted for every tree that is cut down, but very few people ask what happens afterwards or whether those saplings survive,” he says.
Over the next 14 months, he travelled nearly 18,000 kilometres across India, cycling through mountains, forests, deserts, cities and villages.
In Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, he watched construction projects expand into environmentally sensitive areas. In other regions, he observed industrial pollution affecting rivers and local ecosystems.
“What worried me most was that people were beginning to accept these things as normal,” he says. “They should not be normal.”
The kindness he found on the road
While the landscapes left a lasting impression, it was the people he met who stayed with him. Across the country, strangers welcomed him into their homes, offered meals, provided shelter and encouraged him to continue.
“The response was extraordinary. I travelled for months without sponsorship, but everywhere I went, people supported me. They fed me, guided me and treated me like family,” the environmentalist says.
One conversation continues to stand out. During his journey, he met a rickshaw puller carrying a birthday cake home for his daughter. As they spoke, Sundaram suggested that alongside the cake, he could plant a tree as a gift that would continue growing for years.
The man listened carefully. A few moments later, he offered money to support his journey.
“That incident stayed with me because here was a man who worked incredibly hard for every rupee he earned, yet he immediately understood why protecting the environment mattered,” he recalls.
It was one of many moments that restored his faith in people. “You do not need complicated language to explain environmental issues,” he says. “If you speak honestly and simply, people understand.”
The 15 days that changed everything
Not every memory from the journey is a happy one.
In Punjab, his expedition took a frightening turn when he was robbed. The attackers stole his mobile phone and money, leaving him badly injured in the process. “The attack left my knees badly torn and my legs twisted, and I ended up spending 15 days in hospital,” he says.
The physical pain was immense. So was the emotional toll. For the first time since beginning the journey, he considered whether he should stop.
Today, at 31, he is helping drive a movement that is encouraging government officials in Uttar Pradesh to choose bicycles.
Many people advised him to return home. But lying in a hospital bed, he found himself thinking about the reason he had started. “I wanted to do something meaningful for society and for my country,” he says. “If I stopped because of one setback, then what would happen to that purpose?”
As soon as he recovered, he resumed cycling.
Looking back, he believes the experience strengthened his determination. “If you want to create change, difficulties will come, but you cannot allow those difficulties to decide your direction,” he says.
A new mission begins
By the time Sundaram completed his journey in June 2023, he had become convinced that awareness alone was not enough. People mostly agreed with his message. The challenge was turning that agreement into action.
He began thinking about who could lead that change. The answer, he felt, lay with public institutions. “When a senior officer arrives at work on a bicycle, people naturally start talking about it. Employees see it, students see it, and slowly it encourages others to think differently,” he says.
On 15 April 2026, he wrote an email to the Uttar Pradesh Biodiversity Board proposing a practical idea. Officials working in departments responsible for environmental conservation could lead by example by cycling to work whenever possible.
Even replacing a few short vehicle journeys each month could reduce fuel consumption, lower emissions, and encourage healthier lifestyles. Five days later, on 20 April, the proposal was accepted.
“I was very happy,” he says. “After years of talking about cycling and environmental conservation, I finally saw an opportunity to turn those ideas into action.”
Why a few kilometres matter
Today, around 250 forest department officials have participated in the ‘Cycle to Office’ initiative. Most travel between three and five kilometres to reach their workplaces. For some, that may not sound significant. For the environmentalist, it represents a powerful behaviour change.
“If hundreds of officials replace even one weekly car journey with a bicycle ride, the impact becomes meaningful,” he says. “You save fuel, reduce carbon emissions and encourage others to think differently.”
Leading through action
Among those who embraced the initiative is Prem Chandra Mishra, range forest officer and in charge of the forest training institute in Lalganj, Pratapgarh.
While the landscapes left a lasting impression, it was the people he met who stayed with him.
Before participating, he relied largely on a car for commuting. Today, cycling forms a regular part of his routine. “Being associated with the forest department, I feel we should promote sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyles through our own actions,” he says.
The transition was not without challenges. Hot weather and concerns about road safety initially made cycling difficult. Over time, however, the benefits became impossible to ignore.
“Cycling has improved my physical fitness, increased my energy levels, reduced stress and helped save fuel expenses,” Mishra says. “It has also brought more discipline to my daily routine.”
The response from the public has been equally encouraging. “People appreciate the effort, and many colleagues as well as residents feel inspired when they see officers cycling,” he says.
Range forest officer Anoop Kanoujia has experienced something similar. “As forest officers, we regularly encourage people to protect nature,” he says. “I felt it was important to follow sustainable practices myself.”
According to him, cycling has improved his fitness, reduced mental stress and helped reduce dependence on fuel-powered vehicles for short-distance travel. “Many people appreciate the effort and see cycling as a positive example of environmental responsibility,” he says.
The message has resonated beyond the forest department as well.
Senior Indian Railways officer Shivaji Kadam, who has held several leadership positions, including chief environmental and housekeeping manager at North Central Railway Headquarters in Prayagraj, believes such initiatives can influence behaviour far beyond the workplace.
“When officers adopt sustainable habits themselves, people pay attention,” he says. “Leadership by example is usually more effective than awareness campaigns.”
The challenge India must address
Despite the campaign’s success, Sundaram is acutely aware of the obstacles preventing more people from cycling. The most visible challenge is infrastructure.
“Many people want to cycle, but without dedicated cycling tracks they do not feel safe enough to do it regularly, and that remains one of the biggest challenges,” he says.
His own journey exposed him to those risks repeatedly. Heavy traffic, unsafe driving practices and the absence of cycling lanes made cycling difficult in many parts of the country. As State Cycling Leader for Uttar Pradesh under the Fit India Movement, he has consistently advocated for dedicated cycling infrastructure, safer roads and greater awareness among motorists.
Today, around 250 forest department officials have participated in the ‘Cycle to Office’ initiative.
He also believes schools and colleges have an important role to play. “If children are encouraged to cycle from a young age, it becomes a lifelong habit,” he says. In Pratapgarh, he has already begun speaking to students about the benefits of cycling and sustainable living.
“We have noticed that many students are becoming interested again,” he says. “When they see respected officials cycling, it sends a compelling message.”
One ride can start a movement
Looking ahead, he hopes to expand the Cycle to Office initiative across all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh and eventually encourage similar efforts in other states. He also wants to see vehicle-free days introduced in schools, colleges and government offices.
His vision may sound ambitious. Then again, so did cycling 18,000 kilometres across India.
“People ask me what difference one person can make,” he says. “I tell them that every big change starts with one small decision. Mine was choosing a bicycle.”
He pauses before adding, “I am not asking everyone to cycle across India. I am only asking people to think about whether every short journey really needs a vehicle. If more people start there, the impact will be enormous.”
Four years ago, he set out on a bicycle, hoping to start conversations about the environment.
Today, those conversations continue to travel.
Through government offices.
Through schools.
Through villages and towns. And through every person who chooses pedals over petrol, even if only for a few kilometres. For Sundaram, that may be the most meaningful journey of all.
All pictures courtesy Sundaram Tiwari.
