Now, cycle easy on Kolkata roads

KOLKATA: The commissioner of Kolkata Police Anuj Sharma issued an order on Tuesday, allowing the use of bicycles in city roads. In New Town, the authorities are mulling over an idea to introduce car-free Sundays in specific zones to encourage the use of bicycles.
“Bicycles will be allowed in the lanes and bylanes within Kolkata Police’s jurisdiction. Restrictions will continue on the main arterial roads, flyovers and any other area as notified from time to time. The bicyclists should obey one-way restrictions and other traffic rules and regulations,” the order read. This will be effective till July 30.

“We cannot allow cycles on the main roads and all flyovers in the city. They should use the lanes and bylanes. There will be no restrictions on timings except between 9pm and 5am,” said DC (Traffic) Rupesh Kumar. Earlier 62 roads in the city had a blanket ban on cycling from 7am and 11pm. The fresh classification of arterial roads, however, was not clear. “I travel from Dunlop to Shyambazar. Shall I not be allowed on BT Road?” asked Suresh Chand who works in a private firm.
Cops said local traffic guards would fix routes in the business hubs with least intrusion on any important road. Sources said that cycles have made a comeback on important arterial roads like CR Avenue and EM Bypass, causing a major traffic challenge. The guards will chalk alternate routes for them.
The New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) has planned to set up more dedicated bicycle lanes and GPS-enabled bicycle stands, from where one would be able to hire cycle to move around New Town. Officials said New Town has already about 29km dedicated bicycle lane.
The authorities are also planning to reintroduce the cycle sharing scheme in New Town very soon, where one would be able to hire a bicycle from a stand. Each bicycle will be GPS-enabled so that it can be tracked. NKDA is working on the process to identify the spots where the cycle stands will be set up.