The BMC has begun drawing up plans to set up bicycle tracks for short distance.
In a bid to promote the bicycle culture in Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Mumbai Corporation (BMC) is flirting with the idea of organising a cycle-a-thon on the lines of the Mumbai Marathon.
The idea, which is still at a nascent stage, is already being appreciated. Film actor Rahul Bose is among those promoting it.
The corporation has already begun drawing up plans to set up dedicated bicycle tracks for short-distance travel in several parts of the city. Additional municipal commissioner RA Rajeev said the BMC was in the process of finalising a consultant for studying the concept and identifying neighbourhoods where tracks could be laid.
With growing traffic congestion and a rise in pollution, citizens’ groups in areas like Malabar Hill, Bandra Bandstand, Carter Road, Irla, Lokhandwala Complex, and Mulund have been demanding dedicated bicycle lanes. In fact, enthusiasts, students, and parents from 15 schools in Mulund have demanded dedicated lanes and parking space for bicycles on each road in the city.
The Mulund Parents’ Association has even initiated an eco-club which promotes cycle rides. “It is a matter of great astonishment that one prefers a luxurious car drive at the cost of polluting the environment. We feel awkward riding a bicycle, which is a better mode of transport for short distances,” said Yogesh Katira, president of the association.
Katira blamed the wrong policies of the state government for the disappearance of bicycles. “The road development policies have been car-centric,” he said. The association has demanded dedicated cycle lanes even on bridges and highways.
Katira added that 80% of the population in Amsterdam uses bicycles for daily transportation.
The association has also asked the civic body to hold cycle races frequently. “This will help to break the myth that it is not trendy to ride a bicycle and help to revive the cycle culture in Mumbai.”
Cycles used to be a rage among school and college students in Mumbai a decade ago. Apart from food and milk delivery boys, it is difficult to spot a bicycle on the roads these days.
Cycle-a-thons are extremely popular in the United States and in European cities.
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