Conquering Himalayan peaks to inspiring young riders,Mandi Cyclist Jaspreet Pal aims to build a safer cycling culture and a greener Himachal.
PRENEETA SHARMA
“A bicycle may take you to the top of a mountain, but its greatest journey is the one that brings people together, inspires young minds and leads the way towards a healthier, greener future.” This belief captures the spirit of Jaspreet Pal’s cycling journey, which has now entered a new chapter with his appointment as Bicycle Mayor of Mandi by BYCS, an Amsterdam-based organisation working to make cycling accessible to more people worldwide.
For Pal, the appointment is more than a title, it is an opportunity to turn his passion into a purpose-driven movement, taking cycling beyond mountain roads and into schools, colleges and remote villages, while encouraging safer rides, stronger communities and greater care for the Himalayas.His aim is not just to conquer mountain passes but to make cycling safer, bring people closer to nature and inspire them to protect the Himalayas. Through cycling rallies, community rides and local partnerships, he hopes to put more people on peddal and create a healthier, greener future. For Jaspreet, the real success will be when one rider inspires another and a simple bicycle becomes a reason for an entire community to move forward together.
BYCS, an Amsterdam-based organisation, believes that a bicycle can bring people closer, improve health, create equal opportunities and build stronger communities. Through its global efforts, BYCS aims to make cycling accessible to more people, especially those who face challenges in getting on a bicycle. Its vision is simple yet powerful: a world where cycling is not a privilege for a few, but an opportunity for everyone.
Journey From Capturing Moments to Creating Change
Pal’s cycling journey began with a simple moment during lockdown, when he saw a father and son riding bicycles together. The sight inspired him to see cycling as more than a sport but it was a way to connect with people, nature and life. A professional photographer, Pal had always captured stories through his camera, but the bicycle allowed him to experience those stories up close. As his passion grew, he took on challenging mountain routes such as Chanshal, Sach Pass, Kunzum Pass, Baralacha La, Jalori Jot and Shinkula. Each climb tested his strength and patience, teaching him to keep moving even when the road became difficult. Pal believes he has earned his identity as a cyclist through his own hard work and dedication, while the constant support and encouragement of those around him(parents) continue to inspire him to go further.
The most memorable chapters in Jaspreet Pal’s journey came in 2024, when he cycled nearly 640 kilometres from Shimla to Tashigang, reaching an altitude of around 15,256 feet to spread voter awareness at the world’s highest polling station. The challenging ride was not just a test of his endurance but also an effort to carry an important democratic message across the mountains. Through every steep climb and winding road, Pal used his passion for cycling to encourage people to understand the value of their vote and take part in the democratic process. His outreach has taken him across Mandi, Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti, Kangra and Chamba, where the bicycle has become a means of reaching people and building connections across distant communities. For Pal, every journey offers an opportunity to do more than cover kilometres but it is a chance to start conversations, spread awareness and bring people closer to a meaningful cause. His efforts reflect in a simple belief that a bicycle can carry not only a rider, but also a message that is capable of reaching hearts and inspiring the change.
Taking Cycling Beyond Mandi: A Wider Mission as Bicycle Mayor
As Bicycle Mayor of Mandi, Jaspreet Pal aims to take the spirit of cycling beyond the town and into villages, schools, colleges and communities across Himachal Pradesh. His vision is to bring people together, connect existing cycling groups and inspire beginners to discover the joy of riding. Through community rides, awareness campaigns and collaborations with educational institutions, local authorities and youth organisations, he hopes to make cycling a part of everyday life rather than an activity limited to experienced riders or sports enthusiasts. Pal also wants to explore ways to make bicycles and cycling opportunities more accessible to children from economically disadvantaged families, ensuring that financial barriers do not keep young people away from the experience.The role is not just about encouraging more people to ride, but about building a community where every bicycle can become a symbol of health, freedom and togetherness. His at presrnt goal is to turn individual rides into a collective movement that brings Himachal Pradesh closer, one pedal at a time.
Pedalling Towards a Greener Himalayas
Every ride is more than a journey through the mountains but at the same time, it is an opportunity to inspire others to make a difference. Through his messages, “Pedal to Heal Himalayas”, “Green Himachal” and “Save Mountains”, he encourages people to protect forests, keep their surroundings clean and respect the natural beauty of the Himalayas. His passion reflects a simple belief that small steps can lead to meaningful change when more people come together. By bringing people closer to nature through cycling, Pal hopes to inspire the younger generation to embrace outdoor activities, stay physically active and develop healthy habits. The real achievement lies not just in the mountains he climbs, but in the people he inspires to follow a healthier lifestyle and take responsibility for the environment.
Making Every Ride Safer
For Jaspreet Pal, building a cycling culture is not just about getting more people on bicycles; it is about ensuring they feel safe and confident on the road. With Himachal Pradesh’s narrow mountain roads, steep climbs and changing weather, cyclist safety needs special attention. Pal hopes to encourage responsible riding through safety awareness campaigns, the use of helmets and reflective clothing, proper lights and clear signals, while helping motorists understand the importance of sharing the road with cyclists. He also aims to work with local authorities and community organisations to promote safer cycling routes, identify risky stretches and encourage road-safety education in schools and colleges. Through BYCS and its international Bicycle Mayor Network, he hopes to connect local efforts with wider experiences and ideas for safer, more inclusive cycling. His vision is to create roads where beginners, children and families feel welcome on two wheels, because a cycling movement can grow only when people feel safe enough to ride.
Building a Cycling Movement for Himachal Pradesh
Cyclist Jaspreet Pal, the real measure of success as Bicycle Mayor of Mandi will not be the kilometres he covers or the mountain passes he conquers, but the number of people he inspires to begin their own cycling journeys. His vision is to see more students choosing outdoor activities, families coming together for community rides, children gaining access to bicycles and villages joining hands to promote environmental awareness. For him, every new rider represents a small but meaningful step towards a healthier and more connected society. His experience of covering more than 33,000 kilometres across challenging mountain terrain has taught him that every difficult journey begins with the willingness to take the first step.
As he takes on his new responsibility, the challenge ahead is to transform individual enthusiasm into a sustained community movement. The success of this effort will ultimately depend on how many people join in, how accessible cycling becomes and how effectively communities work together to make riding safer and more welcoming.
The Next Summit: A Greener, More Cycling-Friendly Himachal
The next summit may not be a mountain peak waiting to be conquered, but a generation of young cyclists waiting to be inspired. As Himachal Pradesh’s first Bicycle Mayor, he wants to transform his passion into a community-driven movement by encouraging schools and colleges to embrace cycling, motivating families to take up group rides and bringing rural communities together through cycling rallies and awareness campaigns. Beyond promoting fitness and an active lifestyle, he hopes to make cycling safer and more accessible, while encouraging people to protect forests, keep mountain surroundings clean and preserve the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. Through his vision of Pedal to Heal Himalayas, Pal wants every ride to carry a message of health, inclusion and environmental responsibility. For him, success will no longer be measured only by the kilometres covered or the mountain passes crossed, but by the number of people inspired to ride, the communities united through cycling and the young minds encouraged to care for nature. His next summit is a Himachal Pradesh where bicycles connect people, empower the youth and pave the way for a greener, healthier future one rider, one community and one pedal stroke at a time.
Japreet six years journey proves that a title may recognise a person, but it is the work behind the name that gives it meaning.
