New tracks, footpaths can promote cycling, walking

Wrong driving habits of city motorists, including jumping of signals, speeding, frequent overtaking, no sense of lane driving, impatience and dilapidated infrastructure, has made walking and cycling unsafe on city roads. Besides, meager spending, non-enforcement of laws, inadequate policies, staff shortage and no plans to improve roads has made the situation worse. Rapid urbanisation has also made motorists unfriendly towards pedestrians and cyclists. Space for walkers and cyclists is getting squeezed due to sheer pressure of vehicles, whose number is growing rapidly with each passing year. Walking and cycling are the two activities undertaken at road edges, which are undoubtedly one of the most neglected spaces in the city. Footpaths have reduced to mere road kerbs with obstructions including telephone boxes, sign boards, street lights, unauthorised parking, stray animals, electricity poles and encroachments. Besides, motorists also prefer to use footpaths for short distances. Due to absence of tracks in the city cyclists either remain on tattered sides, which are unsafe for cycling, or they have to use the road meant for the motorised traffic. In order to save lives and reduce serious injuries to pedestrians and cyclists, the Municipal Corporation has to create a safe network of footpaths, cycle tracks and greenways throughout the entire city. Besides, to improve the infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists vehicle-free zones, crosswalks, sidewalks on both sides of all streets and traffic lights have to be provided among other things. Moreover, there is lack of a multidisciplinary, holistic and integrated approach, including countermeasures, supporting actions, physical modification of the roadway network or changes in the traffic operation with an aim to create a safer road environment. The police should be made responsible for the enforcement of traffic rules and related legislations. The people should be educated about traffic rules through broad-based multi-media activity. 

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Ravi Chander Garg, a resident

Cycle manufacturing hub has no track for cyclists

Look at the irony of our city. It is the manufacturing hub of cycles in India, but its industrialists, with deep cash pockets, have done nothing to promote cycling in the city. Being a serious cyclist, I am sharing a real experience. I paddle around 30 to 40 km everyday. I have to start at 5 am as city is a late starter. It is impossible for anyone to paddle during the day. Our messy traffic and insensitive drivers just don’t care for pedestrians and cyclists. Those behind wheels think that they are a hindrance for the motorists. Our footpaths are occupied by rehriwalas. There are no cycling tracks. The poor people cycle to work, but they are always at risk. The government must do something about it. Are those walking in corridors of power listening?

Major (retd) Gurdeep Samra

Those cycling to office must be awarded

On this planet, man is considered supreme creation of God. In each and every country there are certain fundamental rights, which are enjoyed by its citizens. These may include the right to live, right to speech, right to food and right to education among others. Each person has a right to use his car, scooter, cycle or any other mode of conveyance. A vehicle occupies some space on a road as per its size. But, cyclist have very less or no room on roads. To make cyclists ride smooth and safe on roads the government must provide separate metalled lanes. People must wear helmets while riding bicycles. Shops should set up at a regular distance to mend cycles as and when need arises. The Municipal Corporation should use model of roads in Chandigarh. Residents, who use cycles to commute between home and office, visit markets and other nearby places should be awarded. It will de-congest roads and there will be less pollution. Cyclists must carry a small first aid kit and one water bottle. Trees on both sides of roads will make cycling a good experience. The civic body should remove encroachment on roads to provide ample space for cycling.

Dr Mohd Saleem, a resident

Fix a day in a week to use cycles 

To make commuting of cyclists safe roads must be earmarked as per type of the vehicle. Proper lane system along with strict rule and regulations can help improve the situation. Hawkers and rehriwalas must be provided a place in each area to avoid congestion and noise pollution. Vehicles must not be allowed to use lanes meant for cyclists. Sign boards with instructions must be fixed along roads to guide drivers about vehicle to be driven on which type of stretch. It should be made compulsory to use cycle on one fixed day in a week. Only genuine cases could be given exemption. Over bridge and under passes can make journey of cyclists smooth. A few rest rooms for cyclists after ever five and 10 km can make them comfortable. Cyclists should wear helmets on roads. No person less than 15 years should be allowed to cycle on a busy or main road. Cyclists must also follow traffic rules.

MTS Farzana Khan, a resident

Government should give subsidy on bicycles

In our cities, roads are not laid while keeping in view cyclists and pedestrians. Authorities think it is none of their business to be on roads. Factually, there is no separate lane for cyclists and no footpath for pedestrians. If at all foothpaths exist anywhere then these are encroached by shopkeepers, rehri/farhiwalas or used for dumping debris/garbage. Aggressive drivers do not tolerate cyclists and overtake from the left side. Drivers must realise the grave situation if all cyclists and pedestrians opt for a motor car. How disgusting it is that a city, which is a bicycle producing hub, is doing nothing to encourage cycling. Roads should be user friendly for cyclists. Pedestrians should have access to zebra crossings. Usually vehicles halt on zebra crossings at light points leaving little space for pedestrians. Cyclists and pedestrians should be accommodated by motorists on road as they too have equal right to commute. Right-of-way should be honoured with due courtesy. Roads are laid and then broadened into four, six or eight lanes to control and allow flow of vehicular traffic. But, nothing is done to reduce traffic on roads. In a busy city area a cyclist can cover 4 to 5 km in a lesser time than a motorist takes. We should prefer cycle to cover shorter distances and very short on foot. If we are to visit a nearby place, we should go on foot. It should be mandatory for students coming from a distance of less than 10 km to use cycle only. All this could be made possible only if our roads are suitable for the purpose. To promote cycling, the government can give subsidy on bicycles. High officials, industrialists, educationists and other affluent people should act as a role model so that others do not have complex while using a cycle. Moreover, cycling keeps one fit, besides saving money and time. It reduces parking problem too. Cyclist may voluntarily wear helmet as an added safety-measure.

SK Mittal, Khanna, a resident

Traffic police should be made responsible

Roads of Ludhiana, considered a smart city, are not safe for cyclists and pedestrians. Initiatives to find safe path on roads are a welcome step. In order to makes things easier for cyclists, laws should be enforced strictly. Masses should be educated on the rights of cyclists and pedestrians. Separate lanes on roads should be marked them. The need of the hour is to draw attention of the traffic police towards safety in lanes and streets of the city. Younger boys often indulge in speeding old cars not used by their parents in streets thus posing a threat to cyclists, senior citizens and children.

Rajinder Paul Kapila, a resident

Alert today, alive tomorrow

Being cautious can always lead to a secure future.  City roads can be made safer by following simple regulations, which are usually ignored by us and the authorities of our country. Increasing road lanes, building foot paths, zebra crossing and installation of traffic signals can bring a major change in the safety of the people. Broader roads can by default have well-defined lanes for cyclists. The reason behind children not riding cycles these days is the risk on roads. Workshops on road safety can be organised by the government to make the public aware of rules for pedestrians and cyclists. Raising a hand while crossing the road to alert motorists, cars maintaining distance from pedestrians, following road signs and signals, fixing reflectors on cycles are a few measures, which can prevent road accidents.

Ikjot Kaur Mann,  a resident

Safe roads can save lives

Almost all of us begin and end day mostly on foot. Due to lack of attention to the needs of pedestrians and tendency to favour motorised transport, the former are at risk of dying, getting injured or disabled. There is no single measure to adequately address risks of pedestrians. Many steps can be taken to improve their safety. There should be a check on behaviour of drivers. Strictly enforcing drinking and driving laws can reduce the number of road deaths by at least 20 per cent. A five per cent reduction in average speed can result in a 30 per cent reduction in the number of fatal crashes. Lesser use of mobile phones and other forms of distractions while driving can reduce mishaps. Pedestrians’ right-of-way must be honoured by vehicle drivers, motorcyclists and cyclists. Besides, rules related to road and vehicle designs must be adhered to. Pedestrians should have access to sidewalks, raised crossings, over and underpasses.  Traffic signals and lighting around pedestrian crossings should be improved. Separate zones for pedestrians should be created in the city by restricting entry of vehicles. Safety of schoolchildren on their routes to and from school has to be taken care of. The safety of cyclists should also be ensured. All road users have a role to play in protecting pedestrians and cyclists. People can make the world safe for walking and riding a cycle. Pedestrians and cyclists can themselves also contribute in this campaign.

Mandeep Kaur, a resident

Traffic lights, zebra crossings for pedestrians

Roads can made safe by installing traffic lights at points vulnerable to accidents. Zebra crossings for pedestrians and cyclists should be provided by the government. All people should follow traffic rules and regulations. Our safety is in our hands. The people should be made aware of traffic rules. Pedestrians should walk on zebra crossings. New roads should accommodate cyclists. 

Mayank Bhatia, a resident

People lack moral values

Both, the public and administration can play their own role to make city roads safe for cyclists and pedestrians. Speeding vehicles are involved in hit and run cases. Drivers of such vehicles have no sympathy for persons injured. The people in general lack moral values of life. There is a strong need to educate the people and make them aware about their social responsibility in accident cases. Mostly accidents happen due to rash driving. Those at fault must be punished. The city police must act in case of accidents. There is general feeling that every one can escape punishment through his/her contacts. It makes roads unsafe for pedestrians. There are laws to deal with accidents. These must be implemented strictly. Traffic management system of China can be implemented in our country too. There are separate pathways along main roads for cyclists and pedestrians in China. Only main roads are used for driving vehicles. The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation should construct separate pathways for pedestrians in accident prone areas of the city. It can help make city roads safe for pedestrians.

Dr G Dev, a resident