In a first, the AAP Government has proposed to build an “elevated cycle track” in South Delhi to promote cycling among the people and ensure last mile connectivity in the national Capital.
Delhi PWD Minister Satyender Jain said the cycle elevated track will be about 10-12 km long which will have stations at about everyone and-a-half-km distance to hire bicycle.
“This is the first time that an elevated cycle track is being constructed in the country. It will be built in South Delhi. As per the plan, the proposed elevated corridor would be made of steel. In Europe, there are about two-three experiments of such tracks going on,” Jain said.
The Minister further said the Government will provide free of cost cycles at the elevated track and after using it, the rider will have to deposit it at the station to be built at the track. He, however, did not divulge the location of the track.
He said the move is intended at promoting cycling among Delhiites and ensuring last mile connectivity in
the Capital.
According to the plan, the Government has also proposed to develop cycle track as tourist destination by creating a lot of activities there. “Each station will have lifts through which people can reach track and ride a cycle at free of cost. lifts will also have a space for cycle if a person wants to ride own bicycle on the track,” Jain
further said.
In January, the Government had announced that it would provide subsidy on purchase of cycles, from the money collected as challans during the odd-even schemes implementation period.
The Transport minister has also appealed to Delhiites to use bicycles for their daily-need every day instead of using bikes in their colonies and said that Government will build cycle tracks and stands on roads.
Plans for a network of elevated cycle tracks have been proposed for london as well. SkyCycle is a 219 km route, with the first phase, proposed from east london to liverpool Street Station.
If the pilot is successful, the city is expected to get ten such elevated bicycle routes over the next 20 years.
Copenhagen in Denmark has also proposed an elevated roadway, named Cykelslangen or Cycle Snake, that speeds cyclists over an area that’s
usually crowded with
pedestrians.