‘Unable to buy helmet’, lawyer cycles to court
By
Nischal Sanghavi
Gopal Trivedi, president ofRajkot MACT Bar Association, was not able to buy a helmet for himself due to long queues
Even as Motor Vehicles Act 2019 came into force in Gujarat on Monday, a vast majority of two-wheeler riders on Rajkot’s roads were riding without a helmet.
But it would be the talk of the town if a lawyer is found openly flouting the rules, isn’t it? Little wonder then that president of Rajkot MACT (Motor Accident Claim Tribunal) Bar Association Advocate Gopal Trivedi decided to cycle to work as he was unable to buy a helmet for himself. “The cycle belongs to my 16-year-old nephew who now walks to school,” he said.
The bar association currently has 196 members. Trivedi had been looking to buy a helmet for himself for the past few days, but there is a shortage of helmets withISI mark in the city with the sudden rise in demand, he said.
Besides, Trivedi says, “The helmets are sold for a much higher price with the sellers trying to make the most of the shortage.”
He says a helmet that would otherwise cost Rs 400 now costs Rs 800 and despite this price hike, there are long queues of buyers outside the shops. So, he decided to go to the court on a cycle. As per Trivedi, when daily wages are only Rs 300, charging a fine of Rs 500 is too much for a common man.
Rajkot has not taken too kindly to the revised motor vehicle rules. As per businessman Mitesh Shah, helmets are good for safety, but in a small town like Rajkot where streets are narrow and crowded, one cannot exceed the 20-25 kmph speed limit. Besides, one will also end up applying brakes at every 2-3 minutes, he said. “At this speed, there is no possibility of fatal accidents. Hence, wearing helmets should be exempted in city area; it should be made mandatory on major roads and highways,” he said, adding, “The same is the case in all towns of Saurashtra.”
Businessmen at Soni Bazaar in Rajkot too find the rule uncomfortable. Divyesh Parekh, said that the bazaar is so crowded that “forget twowheelers it is difficult to even walk speedily there”.
Meanwhile, Lakhtar town ofSurendranagar district observed a total closure on Monday. All shops and business establishments remained closed during the day to oppose the new rules.
Biker wears tapeli instead of helmet
A video of a person riding a motorcycle wearing a steel container is making rounds on the social media. The video was shot at Rajkot’s Yagnik Road, a commercial high street at the city centre. Advocate Bhagirathsinh Dodiya, who shot the video said, he was having tea at a roadside stall with a group of people in Jagnath area. They were discussing the new traffic rules that kicked in on Monday. Suddenly, one of the persons standing there came up with an idea. Why do you need an expensive helmet when anything that protects the head will do a good job, he told others. “He then took a steel tapeli from the stall and wore it on his head before riding off on his motorcycle,” said Dodiya. He said it was something the man did spontaneously and he decided to record a video.
Gopal Trivedi, president of
Even as Motor Vehicles Act 2019 came into force in Gujarat on Monday, a vast majority of two-wheeler riders on Rajkot’s roads were riding without a helmet.
But it would be the talk of the town if a lawyer is found openly flouting the rules, isn’t it? Little wonder then that president of Rajkot MACT (Motor Accident Claim Tribunal) Bar Association Advocate Gopal Trivedi decided to cycle to work as he was unable to buy a helmet for himself. “The cycle belongs to my 16-year-old nephew who now walks to school,” he said.
The bar association currently has 196 members. Trivedi had been looking to buy a helmet for himself for the past few days, but there is a shortage of helmets with
Besides, Trivedi says, “The helmets are sold for a much higher price with the sellers trying to make the most of the shortage.”
He says a helmet that would otherwise cost Rs 400 now costs Rs 800 and despite this price hike, there are long queues of buyers outside the shops. So, he decided to go to the court on a cycle. As per Trivedi, when daily wages are only Rs 300, charging a fine of Rs 500 is too much for a common man.
Gopal Trivedi travelling on a bicycle
Rajkot has not taken too kindly to the revised motor vehicle rules. As per businessman Mitesh Shah, helmets are good for safety, but in a small town like Rajkot where streets are narrow and crowded, one cannot exceed the 20-25 kmph speed limit. Besides, one will also end up applying brakes at every 2-3 minutes, he said. “At this speed, there is no possibility of fatal accidents. Hence, wearing helmets should be exempted in city area; it should be made mandatory on major roads and highways,” he said, adding, “The same is the case in all towns of Saurashtra.”
Businessmen at Soni Bazaar in Rajkot too find the rule uncomfortable. Divyesh Parekh, said that the bazaar is so crowded that “forget twowheelers it is difficult to even walk speedily there”.
Meanwhile, Lakhtar town of
Biker wears tapeli instead of helmet
A video of a person riding a motorcycle wearing a steel container is making rounds on the social media. The video was shot at Rajkot’s Yagnik Road, a commercial high street at the city centre. Advocate Bhagirathsinh Dodiya, who shot the video said, he was having tea at a roadside stall with a group of people in Jagnath area. They were discussing the new traffic rules that kicked in on Monday. Suddenly, one of the persons standing there came up with an idea. Why do you need an expensive helmet when anything that protects the head will do a good job, he told others. “He then took a steel tapeli from the stall and wore it on his head before riding off on his motorcycle,” said Dodiya. He said it was something the man did spontaneously and he decided to record a video.
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