Sat Mar 15 16:57:11 UTC 2025: ## Chennai Doctor Promotes Cycling as Medicine, Offers Incentives to Staff
**CHENNAI, March 15, 2025** – A Chennai geriatric physician is leading by example, promoting cycling as a preventative measure against lifestyle diseases. Dr. B. Hari Shankar, founder of BHS Geriatrics and Diabetes Centre in Old Pallavaram, cycles eight kilometers daily to work, inspiring his staff and patients to adopt the healthy habit.
To encourage cycling among his 50 employees, Dr. Shankar provides a monthly travel allowance of ₹1000 and covers bicycle maintenance costs. The clinic even provides more than 20 bicycles for staff who don’t own one. Nurse S. Banu, who cycles 10 km daily, credits cycling with significant weight loss. Social health worker P. Radhakrishnan also highlights the positive impact on his sleep.
Dr. Shankar’s initiative extends to patients, with the clinic even providing bicycles to those in need. He advocates cycling, running, and walking as effective ways to combat obesity, diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. The clinic also employs other unique health-conscious practices, such as cooking food on firewood and serving vegetables partially cooked.
While the clinic encourages cycling, Dr. Shankar emphasizes a flexible approach, acknowledging that not all employees embraced the idea immediately. For instance, some female nurses initially felt uncomfortable with the promotional boards on the bicycles, leading to their removal. The doctor’s overall message promotes a holistic approach to well-being, combining exercise with mindful lifestyle choices.
First Piper 