Decongest Roads, Pedal Your Way Around

In the concrete jungle and ever scary streets of Bangalore, pedaling your way to work and back seems like ancient history.

Bangalore, Feb 18  : But according to the Comprehensive Traffic and Transportation Studies (CTTS) conducted during 2008 by the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT), it is recognized that there is an increasing need for non-motorized transport like cycles.

In the survey conducted by the DULT, an average bicycle trip as a mode of transport covers nearly five kilometer and 30 per cent of cycle trips are for this distance. Similarly, it is 43 per cent for distance of up to two kilometer by cycles in Bangalore and cycle trips of over five kilometer account for the remaining 27 per cent.

Former police commissioner HT Sangliana had tried to stipulate exclusive cycling lanes on the congested City roads but it died a natural death as the roads were already too narrow.

The yellow lines demarcating the cycling zones were eventually blackened. DULT report has condemned the ‘least importance’ given to pedestrians and cyclists and lauded the revival of cycle clubs.

Pedal2Mumbai

‘Pedal2Mumbai’ and leave your cars behind was the slogan of  the 10 cyclists who embarked on a 1010-km journey from the City to Mumbai on Tuesday. Flagged off by Transport Commissioner Bhaskar Rao, the rally organized by the Bangalore Cycling Club will see these enthusiasts cover the distance in four days to promote the ‘Car Free Day’ to be held in Mumbai on February 21.