Chandigarh to become first city to penalise cyclists

Traffic violators, a large part of them being two-wheelers, are not uncommon to a city grappling with millions of vehicles, but it is rare to see a cyclist being pulled up for such an offence.

Riders in Chandigarh, however, have to watch out as the city authorities are preparing a plan to issue chalan tokens and likely impose Rs 300 fine on those jumping signals and riding in the wrong lanes.

The Union Territory administration is currently studying a proposal from the police to penalise cyclists, which, if comes to force, would make the UT the first city in the country to have steeper penalties for the seemingly harmless non-motorised bicycles. This may also require amendment to the concerned act.

Known for strictly enforcing traffic regulations, Chandigarh has been seeing a steady rise in the number of fatal accidents involving cyclists in recent times.

In 2010, cyclists contributed to 14 per cent deaths due to traffic accidents, but in 2014, that number jumped up by 33 per cent, leading to the idea that stricter regulations will be in the best interest of the cyclists and would do a world of good to the general traffic discipline.

Traffic police in the city are peeved for a reason as they see cyclists break the rules with impunity.  Often enough, they find cycles without rear reflectors. Riders also pedal on the wrong lanes, cross over concrete road dividers, besides jumping signals and traffic lanes. Fatal deaths of cyclists have obviously dented the reputation of traffic regulators. If sources were to be believed, cyclists will have to pay Rs 300 for violations.

Lack of penalties has emboldened cyclists to breach the rules so brazenly, Chandigarh SSP (Traffic) Maneesh Chaudhary pointed out in a petition to the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
In the absence of provisions in the rulebook, traffic cops have resorted to deflating the tyres as a means of punishing violators.

Authorities are also planning to do up pedestrian and cycle lanes for the convenience of the riders.  Given that most cyclists in the city saddle up for economic reasons, as most of them are from low-income bracket, there is also the growing feeling among city residents that cyclists must be counselled on the ills of rule breaking before the fines come into force.