Guwahati: Long before austerity measures adopted by the govt following the West Asia conflict and PM Narendra Modi’s appeal to save fuel, BJP MLA from Khumtai assembly constituency, Mrinal Saikia, had quietly made it a way of life.Cycling since his childhood and encouraging others to adopt it as a mode of transport for short distances, Saikia has championed it as a practical, eco-friendly alternative, which saves money, protects the environment and keeps the body fit.Since his first election to the assembly in 2016, travelling through the villages of his constituency on his bicycle and in a casual outfit to meet people has been a daily affair for Saikia. Saikia, who stays in Guwahati only during assembly sessions and in case of urgent matters, mostly travels by bus from his home in Khumtai to Guwahati, covering a distance of nearly 300 km.Saikia told TOI, “I did not adopt bicycles as a mode of transport seeking publicity. Bicycles are an integral part of village life. We have been cycling since childhood. Even after becoming an MLA, I have not given up cycling.”He said he has been constantly encouraging others to adopt bicycles as a mode of transport instead of motorcycles or cars for short-distance travel.“This not only saves your hard-earned money, but it also helps you contribute towards protecting the environment. Moreover, cycling keeps a person physically fit,” he added.He said the “Green Warriors Khumtai” volunteers, who have been planting trees across Khumtai constituency under Saikia’s initiative for a long time, also use bicycles for travelling.In a deliberate political message underscoring simplicity, accessibility, and grassroots connect, Saikia and his supporters travelled first on bicycles for 8 km from his home at Melamara to Salmara Tea Estate playground and then on foot for about 12 km to submit his nomination papers for the recently-concluded assembly elections at the district commissioner’s office on March 23.