MANGALURU: If cycling is made safe and convenient in Mangaluru, 97% of women and 98% of men would cycle regularly, revealed the survey conducted to assess the challenges Mangaluru Smart City Limited (MSCL) is likely to face in rolling out the #cycles4change challenge.
Nearly 1,674 people responded to the survey of which 28% were women and 72% were men. Among total respondents, 4% were below 14 years, 6% were from 14 to 18 years, 81 % were from 19 to 50 years and 9% were above 50 years of age. Interestingly, 80% of women and 84% of men prefer to own a cycle. Of the total respondents, 84% of the women and 99% of the men know how to cycle.
On the biggest barriers to cycling in the city, 77% of women and 69%of men feared speeding vehicles, 63% of women and 68% of men found parked vehicles and pedestrians as obstruction. Also, 73% of women and 69% of men found potholes and open drains as a threat and 24% women fear eve-teasing. More than 50% of the respondents, 54% of women and 55% of the men felt Mangaluru is unsafe and inconvenient for cycling.
Among locations, 39% of women and 31% of men said they feel unsafe at junctions, 37% of women and 35% of men felt unsafe on main roads and 12% of women and 18% of men felt unsafe on narrow roads. About 38% of women and 64% of men ride daily or a few days a week.
On positive feedback for cycling in Mangaluru, only 10% of the cyclists felt the commute distance is too long in the city. Only 15% felt that the weather is unpleasant for cycling and 24% of the cyclists felt that the terrain is too steep and hilly.