Why cyclists in Gurgaon can’t pedal to work, like CM did

Gurgaon: On Monday, chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, accompanied by his media advisor Rajiv Jain, HLRDC chairman Ajay Gaur and other officials, rode cycles to their offices at Haryana Civil Secretariat in Chandigarh to promote cycling on World Bicycle Day.
In Gurgaon, meanwhile, cyclists bemoaned the lack of dedicated cycle tracks, safer roads and cyclist-friendly intersections, pointing out there was plenty of enthusiasm for cycling but not the guarantee of a safe ride to turn than into a habit.
Speaking to TOI, several cycling enthusiasts and people who cycle to commuters expressed their disappointment with the governm-ent and administration for not doing enough to prom-ote cycling, which they believe is a sustainable transportation option given rising pollution. “There’s definitely no infrastructure for cyclists. It’s really unsafe to cycle on Gurgaon’s roads. Even the existing service lanes are not safe, as traffic laws are not strictly enforced,” pointed out Ela Ghose, a cycling enthusiast.
The city’s road designs have completely ignored cyclists’ needs. Even tracks, like the one between Signature Towers and Rajiv Chowk on the expressway, which were built to promote cycling, are today encroached upon, used by motorists driving on the wrong side, and as illegal car parking. Cyclists said ‘open’ cycle tracks are meaningless in the absence of traffic sense in people, as well as strict law enforcement. Separate and segregated cycle tracks with better traffic management is needed, they said.
Beyond lack of infrastructure and the deplorable condition of whatever little that exists, experts in road planning have expressed concerns over designing of intersections and periodic road widening exercises. “The biggest hurdle for cyclists are intersections, which, instead of being compact, are spread wide like a football ground, with traffic flowing from every direction. Moreover, widening of roads only results in vehicles moving at higher speeds, which makes crossing intersections or changing lanes a life-threatening risk,” noted Sarika Panda Bhatt, associate director, Nagarro, which supports sustainable transport initiatives.
Commenting on GMDA’s approach towards making roads safer for cyclists, chief engineer Jitender Mittal said, “We’ll begin work on roads that come under our jurisdiction. Apart from designated lanes and tracks, at intersections, there will be markings in red that run alongside zebra crossings for cyclists. But ultimately the onus lies with people to adhere to traffic rules and signages.”
The city’s community of cyclists were unanimous that while properly designed cycling infrastructure is an immediate need, they also said a paradigm shift in behavioural aspects towards cycling and ‘civilized’ trafficking sense are needs of the hour. Cyclists believe other commuters, especially those on motorised transport, need to be more sensitive towards those who are pedalling, not look down upon cyclists and expect them to give way to cars and bikes.
“The main problem is with the mindset of people, and how they perceive cyclists. On roads, bicycles aren’t even in the radar of those driving cars. Even when we ride along the extreme left of the road, motorists drive past real close,” complained Ghose. Further, due to poor traffic management, vehicle density on roads is often alarming, with everyone trying to squeeze into gaps. Cyclists are always at the receiving end of such behaviour, said cyclists.
The CM on Monday also announced construction of cycle tracks in Faridabad, Karnal and Gurgaon so that more people can use bicycles daily, although the city is waiting for stalled projects like the 7km-long track between Dundahera Chowk and Mahavir Chowk launched in 2016, to be completed.
“We had handed over the project to GMDA but there’s some dispute that they want us to resolve. We are working on that. Further, there’s big cycling track coming up along the Badshapur drain,” revealed MCG Commissioner Yashpal Yadav.