2016 Sep 6
Initiated by the St. Thomas’ College Class of ’82, the Thomian Ride 2016 is a rather unique fundraising project. The event involves a 12 day ride around the country, covering a total of 1400 km. It is to set to begin on the 25th of October and will conclude on the 5th of November this year.
The members of the class of ’82 will be the primary participants of the cycling journey. However, the registration is open to past pupils of other batches, parents, well-wishers and even present students of the school. All proceeds obtained from the event will go towards upgrading the classroom facilities, in order to better suit the requirements of modern education methods.
However, the class of ’82 has an even larger goal in mind, with regards to purpose of the Thomian ride. They are setting out to combat one of Sri Lanka’s largest issues – road accidents. In partnership with the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, the class of ’82 has conducted extensive research into this present problem. Their statistics show that 6 Sri Lankans die every day due to road accidents, giving rise to nearly 2800 deaths every year – a pressing issue for our country.
Most of these victims are vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, between the ages of 15 – 29. If nothing is done to minimize this number, road accidents will be the seventh leading cause of death by 2030. As large as these numbers may seem, it is yet an achievable feat.
85% of road accidents are caused due to human behaviour. In Sri Lanka, the use of seatbelts while driving is not consistent. Studies have proven that while English number plate owners make increased use of the seatbelt, Sinhalese number plate owners rarely do. Undoubtedly this is due to the laws in our country. In addition to this, the use of seatbelts for backseat passengers is completely unheard of in Sri Lanka!
While 90% of motorcycle users do implement the use of helmets, an extensive research concluded that these helmets are not worn appropriately and not fastened well, rendering their use redundant. Only 45% of schoolchildren wear helmets on motorcycles – a rather dangerous statistic. Not to mention, the use of cell phones by pedestrians on the pavements and zebra crossings, a contributing factor towards road accidents. Along with the most prominent factor – the aggressiveness of the average Sri Lankan while driving!
With extensive research and a passion for road safety, the class of ’82, has decided to make road safety awareness an important part of their journey. They will be conducting seminars at various schools across the country, by working with the Department of Education to select and liaise with schools. These seminars will focus on pedestrian and cyclist safety, safety while driving, and road safety in general.
The organizers firmly believe that educating and increasing awareness in children will contribute towards road safety in the future. One of the primary participants and organizers of the event, Dinesh Deheragoda, stated that “If we address the younger generation, and put the message across in an effective way, it will bear better results.”
The planned route will commence at Mutwal, where St. Thomas’ College had its beginnings. The cyclists will pass through Kochchikade, Puttalam, Mannar, Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Arugam Bay, Kataragama, Mirissa, finally ending in Colombo. Along with conducting a minimum of four seminars in schools at each stop, they will be hosting carnivals at various locations along the way. These will be accompanied by an Art & Essay competition held for the local kids and various musical shows. An estimated number of 1000 participants will be joining the team during the last leg of the journey.
The class of ’82 further wishes to target adult populations and conduct seminars as well. These include the Three Wheel Drivers Association, the Bus Drivers Association, Traders, and Religious leaders. The organizers plan to place an increased emphasis on the safety of cyclists through their journey. They will be handing out leaflets, along with reflective stickers for the use of bicycles.
Their goal is to decrease fatal road accidents by increasing the awareness worldwide – indeed a ride for a cause! You can learn more about the event at their website http://www.thomianride.lk/ or by emailing them at info@thomianride.lk.
