Traffic in the city has always been a problem. Earlier cab and autorickshaw drivers were seen as the culprits for making travelling on the roads an ordeal. But citizens are now lamenting about two-wheeler drivers becoming a menace on the road in many ways, from contributing to quarrels and road rage to causing accidents.
Even traffic authorities agree that two-wheeler riders contribute a lot to the already existing chaos on the roads. Manish Rungte, Assistant Chief Warden, Ulsoor, says, “On small roads, like the bylanes of RT Nagar or Indiranagar, four-wheeler drivers are seen to obey rules. But two-wheelers cut into the lane from left or right, according to their whim and fancy; without bothering about their own safety or that of others. Lane-cutting is a big issue here and then they pick fights with other motorists on the road, for a mistake committed by them.”
Skipping signals at junctions by two-wheeler riders leaves other motorists
frustrated. “The bigger problem lies in holding up traffic and rash driving. Around 70 per cent of the chaos on the roads is contributed by two-wheeler riders, directly or indirectly. As for ‘challans’ — many have been piling up but the riders don’t care to pay. This itself shows their indifference to the system,” says Manish.
He also points out that these perpetrators take wrong U-turns or don’t wear helmets, even while jumping signals, yet have the audacity to blame others. “Often they leave other motorists baffled after they hit a vehicle and shout profanities and leave. It’s like the road belongs to them,” he adds.
From being yelled at by two-wheeler riders to getting involved in spats on the road, Bengalureans have seen it all. Babita Jaishankar, a businesswoman, says that every day on the road is an ordeal.
“They try to navigate the smallest of spaces, which is the trigger to all issues. They believe that they own the road. The saddest part is that often four-wheeler drivers get into trouble for an accident, even when the two-wheeler rider is at fault.”
Better rules and better management of the roads is required to control these motorists, says Babita. She adds, “Often when I get off a bus and start walking on a pavement, I hope for it to be one with a few slabs missing, which lets pedestrians walk by and not be hit by these bikes.”
Rajashree Hiremagalur, a homemaker, agrees that two-wheelers riding on the pavements is a rampant problem in the city.
“The riders have their own justification and they express their disregard for the pedestrians, who, they believe, are making the ride slow for them. They use abusive words or even hit the pedestrians and flee. Recently, my father was pushed down from a pavement and he fell onto the road, because a two-wheeler rider wasn’t able to pass by him on a space not meant for driving in the first place,” she
narrates.
The rulebook doesn’t seem to exist for two-wheeler riders, points out Rajashree, adding that she feels when licences are issued, these riders aren’t taken through a stringent screening test. “There are so many two-wheelers around that it is difficult for the Traffic Police department to keep a tab on them,” she adds Road rage caused by two-wheeler riders is another big issue. Pankaj Karthik Sundareshan, a software engineer, says, “Recently, when I was near Russel Market, a two-wheeler overtook my car from the wrong side. The rider hit my vehicle and fell off. He immediately came with his helmet in hand and started pounding on the window and asking for money. Thankfully, a traffic policeman who had witnessed the situation was nearby and he helped me.”
Pankaj says that apart from the driving test, regular awareness campaigns
should be held for two-wheeler riders, where they are sensitised about the rules
and being courteous on the road.
Many Bengalureans feel that the sensitisation has to start within their own circle. Sharmista BS, a homemaker, reminds her two-wheeler friends about being courteous on the road, after being pulled into an argument when a two-wheeler rider came and grazed by her. “He became annoyed because he lost his balance. His wife and child were riding pillion, he wasn’t wearing a helmet and he was riding madly, yet he stopped to shout at me. I immediately asked him about his driving sense and he started off with the profanity,” she says.