The Centre of Science and Environment director-general Sunita Narain’s accident has sent activists’ backing separate track for bi-cyclist in a mad frenzy, but the City Beautiful which has such tracks is facing a different problem.
There has been a steep rise in the number of accident cases concerning non-motorised commuters and bi-cyclist in Chandigarh. According to the data available with the Chandigarh Traffic Police, around 37 cyclists have lost their lives in the last two and a half years that saw 505 fatal and non-fatal road accidents in Chandigarh. Most of the fatal accidents were reported on main roads, namely Madhya Marg, Dakshin Marg and few on internal stretches.
Maneesh Chaudhury, Senior Superintendent Traffic, Chandigarh said, “Separate lanes for cyclist have been constructed by the UT Administration, for the safety and smooth plying. However, riders prefer not to use them and they ply on main roads, sharing it with motorised vehicle, exposing themselves to fatal accidents.”
The Chandigarh Traffic police have time and again organised traffic safety campaigns to educate commuters over matters of road safety, only to fall on deaf ears. Traffic officials and home guard volunteers were deputed, especially, for guiding non-motorised commuters to drive on the lane meant for them but even they are ignored, said traffic police officials.
“In most of the incidents, cyclists were killed while they were riding on main roads and not on the stretches meant for them. Most of the cyclists do not follow the guidelines of police officials who are deputed to guide them to ride on the specified lanes,” said a constable of Chandigarh police posted near a bicycle track.
“The UT Administration has been sent a proposal by the Traffic Department to issue a notification to empower traffic police to regulate the plying of bi-cycle on main roads where special tracks are present for cycling which might help us serve better,” said Chaudhury.