Enough is enough! Cyclists, activists call for better infrastructure

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The death of a cyclist on the Hebbal flyover, who was hit by an SUV has raised statements by several people on social media who have blamed the cyclist for riding on such a busy flyover with fast-moving heavy vehicles.

But several activists claim that the accident happened only because there is not enough infrastructure for cyclists in the city. The lack of proper infrastructure for cyclists in cities is not only an issue in Bengaluru, but in many other cities of India as well. In the last three years, more than 100 cyclists were injured and as many as 28 were killed in road accidents in Bengaluru. Hence, it is imperative that government takes action to improve road safety for all road users, including cyclists.

One way to achieve this is to prioritise the safety and convenience of all road users; including pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport users, as well as motorists. In a city as big and busy as Bengaluru, there are only 600 dedicated tracks for cyclists and these are extremely dispersed and disconnected. Even if there are cycle tracks, they are being misused and damages are not being fixed.

“The death of a cyclist is a tragic illustration of the danger that a road infrastructure designed for cars poses to those on bicycles. The frequency with which such incidents occur in our cities is deeply concerning,” Avinash Chanchal the Campaign Manager for the Power the Pedal campaign of Greenpeace India said. He added that it is imperative that we stop making any excuses and begin taking concrete steps to improve safety for cyclists in our cities.

"Enough is enough, fumes an activist who doesn't want to be named. “We are fed up with this governance and its corrupt-nature. The next government should take up civic issues rather than communal issues," the activist added. Apart from cycle tracks, one issue that cyclists face on a daily basis is cycle parking. The fear of theft also discourages several cyclists from riding their cycles. Cycle parking facilities must be established near all major places such as bus stops, railway stations, suburban train stations, and metro stations.

Another solution is to encourage the use of electric bicycles (e-bikes) as a means of transportation. E-bikes provide an environmentally friendly and efficient alternative to cars and can be particularly useful for those commuting over longer distances or in hilly areas. In addition, e-bikes can help to reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, and promote physical activity. Avinash Chanchal added that the need to reduce the number of cars and increase non-motorised modes of transport is essential.

Compared with motorized vehicles, bicycles have many advantages, especially for commuting over short distances. They are a non-polluting means of transportation that actually improves environmental quality by reducing air pollution, noise and congestion. He added, “We need to provide safe pathways and incentives for our citizens to opt for walking and cycling.”