Bengaluru isn’t bicycle-friendly yet

NT Correspondent
Bengaluru:

The issue of motorists taking over cycle lanes is back being discussed after a Twitter user called out two-wheelers on Old Airport road for using the lane. “Motorbikes have now another option beyond footpaths.

Pedestrians, cyclists, clear out! That's sustainable mobility for you in Bengaluru!,” a user tweeted. Sathya Sankaran, Bengaluru’s Bicycle Mayor, said that motorists taking over cycle lanes has always been an issue across the city, especially around the outer ring road.

“Some people don’t even know it is a cycle lane because there is a lack of signboards and popularisation,” he said, adding that the authorities do not even try to enforce rules or create awareness.

“If the designated police take time to stand in the cycle lanes and enforce rules, at least for an hour in the day and a few days in a week, we might see some change,” he said, explaining that the irresponsible behaviour is consistent due to lack of deterrents. Sathya also said the Regional Transport Office (RTO) must test citizens obtaining their driving licences strictly and make sure they are well aware of all the traffic rules.

“Whenever there is traffic congestion, two-wheelers tend to mount the footpath and ride on it to bypass the congestion. There is no enforcement curbing them at all,” said Nihar Thakkar, a cyclist. Nihar is also part of a project with the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) that aims to install cycle lanes in the neighbourhood of Doddanekundi.

“From what I have seen, we can try and prevent motorists from encroaching by implementing infrastructure such as barricades in the entrance of the lane, but this will only curb three and four-wheelers,” he said, elaborating that it is hard to implement a design that will only allow cycles and curb two-wheelers. “Technology-based enforcement, like installing cameras in the vicinity and penalising the violators, is the solution to the issue,” he added.