Cycle tracks may be on the way out

Thursday, Dec 09, 2010




Commuting on Delhi's traffic-laden roads may soon become easier, with newly-built cycle tracks on stretches such as Bhishma Pitamah Road, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Marg and Chandni Chowk, among others, expected to be on the way out. The move comes after constant pressure from the Delhi traffic police and thousands of road users that made the Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning and Engineering) Centre (UTTIPEC) decide on a lasting solution to the problem.

"We felt that there is no need for cycle tracks on roads that are 30 metres wide. On narrow roads, the volume of traffic is heavy and its speed slow. Separate cycle tracks on these stretches actually increase the chance of accidents and lead to traffic congestion," said a senior officer of UTTIPEC.

According to Paromita Roy, senior consultant, UTTIPEC, "We will place our proposal before the governing body meeting on January 7; it will be implemented after taking the consent of all stakeholders."

KK Kapila, chairman, International Road Federation, a non-governmental organisation said: "Removal of cycle tracks from busy roads will actually reduce road accidents. Separating cyclists from other motorised commuters on such roads is dangerous."

A number of cycle tracks (CTs) were built in Delhi before the Commonwealth Games.

However, many of them have remained unused and according to traffic police officials, they have only made the task of traffic cops tougher.

"Many cycle tracks have actually reduced road space and resulted in severe traffic hazards. The reduced road width causes congestions," said Ajay Chadha, special commissioner of police (administration and traffic) said.

CTs were built on several roads, including the stretch between Vikas Marg and Karkardooma, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Marg, the existing BRT corridor from Ambedkar Nagar to Delhi Gate, Geeta Colony Flyover, Bhishma Pitamah Marg, Ring Road, Netaji Subhash Marg, Mall Road and Chandni Chowk.

"It takes around 30 minutes to travel a kilometre due to CTs at Netaji Subhash  Marg and SP Mukherjee Marg," said Sanjay Bhargava, president, Chandni Chowk Sarv Vyapar Mandal.

Original news source http://www.hindustantimes.com/Cycle-tracks-may-be-on-the-way-out/Article1-636148.aspx