Cyclists seek dignity, safety, priority

By and large, cycles are the most neglected means of transportation in the City. While laying roads or widening them, convenience of cyclists may be the last thing in the minds of the authorities concerned.

Regular cyclists face too many problems everyday while commuting on the City roads. Many are reluctant to start or give up cycling owing to the abuses they face from motorists, particularly at traffic signals.


Chetan, a resident of JP Nagar, took to cycling recently on the advice of his friends. The idea was to improve his fitness and develop stamina. He leaves for Lalbagh at 6 am every day. He has now realised that it is easy while going. However, cycling back home is a challenge. “In Jayanagar, dedicated lanes for cycles are now being used for parking vehicles,” rues Chetan. “Traffic is a major problem.”


Prabhakar Rao, founder and president of the Go-Green Cycling Club, and his family is devoted to promoting cycling so much that the cars at his garage have been gathering dust for a while. He drops his two children to their schools on his cycle in turns every day.
Ask him how friendly the city roads are for cyclists. “Traffic signals are not biker-friendly. The cyclists should be allowed to stand in the front line at the traffic signals, so that they can cross roads with pedestrians,” he suggests.


What is happening now is just the opposite. Cyclists get caught in the middle of vehicles billowing out smoke. “Cyclists face health hazards as they are highly exposed to the smoke emitting from the vehicles. Actually, I am sick now,” he says. Many others complain that motorists are not even bothered about the cyclists. Worse, many are intolerant towards them.


Safety of commuting by cycle in the city is another big concern.  “We cycle to reduce tension and stress. But cycling in the city is rather irritating as cars keep honking at cyclists. Most of the time we are forced to ride on footpaths,” says Vedanth, Managing Director of Siddhi Group.


Since there are no dedicated cycle paths, cyclists become aliens, given the nature of their transporters, on busy roads. And mostly they are perceived as an irritation by motorists, who are on a rush.


Over speeding motorbikes and cars, however, pose a big threat to them. It is risky for them to ride on flyovers as well. “Besides speeding vehicles, the sudden lane change by autorickshaws and sometimes buses (especially on Hosur road) is a big concern. Once an autorickshaw hit my cycle as it was trying to change lane,” recounts Arun Kumar S, who travels by cycle from MG Road to HSR Layout every day.


Besides lack of government’s integrated approach, the society’s attitude towards cycle is another reason to worry. “Majority of people feel that cycle is not posh and does not reflect their social status. There is a need for a tectonic shift in people’s attitude towards cycles,” feels Murali, director of NammaCycle.


He adds that when more and more people start peddling to their destinations daily, the government would be forced to create a suitable infrastructure for cycling in the city.
The cycling enthusiasts and clubs have been organising rides regularly in order to create awareness of environmental, social and health benefits of cycling among people. They also hope to inspire as many people as possible to use cycles for their transportation needs. Cycling to work could also help deal with the city’s notorious traffic problem.


While dedicated cycle lanes are being used as parking space by motorists, lack of safe parking is adding to the woes of cyclists. “Cycles are pretty expensive and are vulnerable to theft. We don't have a secured parking space for cycles. Even high-end malls and high-tech parks in the city doesn't provide a safe place to park our cycles,” laments Manjesh Chandrashekaran, founder of iCycle.

Manoj Kumar R