Hosting cycling for streetlamps

If you were to notice Patan Durbar Square at night, the lights that dominate the scene are mostly from the shops surrounding it. Apart from a few lighting the temples to showcase their architecture, the street lightings are poor and not at all eco-friendly.[break]



However, a new source of hope has appeared for the locals there as Laxmi Cares, a non-profit NGO formed by employees of Laxmi Bank, is taking matters into their hands.



Organizing the annual Laxmi Cares Mountain Bike Race & Rally 2011 on April 2, the NGO hopes to accumulate enough funds to install solar LED streetlights in Patan Durbar Square to brighten up the heritage site in an environmentally-friendly way.



Though the trend in the past has been to give the finances amassed by such fundraisers to other organizations to do the work, Laxmi Cares are trying to make a change themselves.



“For the past six years, we’ve been trying to set examples by doing these kinds of things ourselves for the wellbeing of the society as well as the environment,” says Prasanna KC, president of Laxmi Cares.



He further points out that this event has not only been organized to install LED lamps in Patan but also to promote mountain biking as well as the ‘Go-Green’ initiatory mindset of the organizers.



“It’s not about just saying something but also doing it, so that we can advise other people to do it as well since we are following it ourselves,” remarks KC, referring to Bike Friday when enthusiastic members of Laxmi Bank go to their office on bicycles.



In the future, Laxmi Cares also plans to install Solar LED streetlamps on the Bagmati Bridge.







Solar LED streetlights



Solar LED streetlight is an integrated light-emitting diode (LED) light fixture that is used for street lighting by taking the energy from the sun. Due to its efficiency, it is both economic as well as environment friendly.



Though a LED streetlight is considered to have a high life span, the longevity is usually compared with its current light output to its original design output. Once its brightness has decreased by 70%, an LED is considered to be at its life’s end.



The main appeal of a LED streetlamp is its efficiency in using power. Using only half or less of the power used to light a traditional bulb, a LED light can produce the same outcome.



Laxmi Cares plans to spend around Rs 600,000 on setting 40-watt streetlamps, which will have power supply for upto three days without direct sunlight.



Security measures



Solar LED streetlights don’t come cheap. With the price range from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 70,000, these low power consuming devices require some extra attention.



To make sure that nothing detrimental happens to the lamps after installation, Laxmi Cares has sought help from Three Star Club, the local club at Patan. Sanjeeb Shilpakar, a member of the club, informs that the club has requested for more security from the police in the area for the installation of the lights.



“Security is usually tight as Patan Durbar is a heritage site. But still, we’ve asked for further assistance from the security forces,” he adds.



Shilpakar agrees that the main problem might not be theft but vandalism. “For this, we hope that the public will be able to control such acts from happening,” he articulates with reference to the community in Patan being closely knit.



The rally and the race



The rally is scheduled to start from 7 o’clock in the morning from Patan Durbar Square. The entourage of cyclists will pedal to Gyanodaya Residential School in Khokana of Bhaisepati. The distance between the two points is approximately six kilometers.



The racetrack is 70% off the road, 10% on single trails and 20% on tarmac, with a total distance of 7.1 kilometers. Participants will be divided into four categories: Men’s elite (8 laps), Masters (6 laps), Women’s (5 laps) and Men Junior (4 laps).



The race winners will receive prize money of upto Rs 100,000 with other hampers.



Along with the adrenaline event, a concert is also to be organized with Mukti and Revival, Albatross and others. There will also be food stalls to satisfy the participants’ hunger and thirst.



Participation in the event will cost Rs. 1,000 if you bring your own mountain bike; or Rs. 1,500 where the organizers provide you with one. The cost also covers a free t-shirt along with a lunchbox and water bottle. The last date of registration is March 28. Forms are available at Laxmi Bank.

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