HE may be no stranger to ambitious challenges, but Luke Parry’s latest plan to cycle 16,000 miles on a rickshaw is his biggest adventure yet.

Next week, 22-year old Luke plans to set off from the East Yorkshire to cycle around the world on a rickshaw on a journey expected to last 18 months.

He intends to pick up passengers along the way to learn about their lives and document their stories.

It is the latest challenge for the engineering graduate, who in 2011 cycled 2,200 miles from London to Istanbul.

In 2012 he paddled the 200 miles along Birmingham to London canal in a bath tub to raise money for the Red Cross.

The charity supported his family when they were caught up in the New Zealand earthquake.

Luke said: “Having just graduated with a first in mechanical engineering from Warwick this summer, I wasn’t ready for a job and wanted to see the world but with a difference.

“The adventure is all about meeting the passengers and giving them a chance to share their story with the world, by writing a message in my log book that I will be keeping for the journey. I also will attempt to write a routine blog as I can imagine that each day there will be countless unique experiences.”

His route will take him through England into mainland Europe, heading towards Istanbul and down through Eastern Europe. He then hopes to travel through Kurdistan, Iran and then on to India and into South East Asia before hopefully continuing into the US.

Luke, from Eastrington, near Howden, sourced the rickshaw through Adam Mclean, of Cycle Heaven at York Station.

He said the planning of visas and keeping updated on affairs in the Middle East and Asia had been extremely time consuming but was now nearing completion.

He will begin his journey at his old school, Howden School, on Tuesday and he will then head through Selby and York.

He intends to stay in touch with his old school to inspire and help with geography lessons.

For more information, visit www.worldrickshawtaxi.com