Why can't we have dedicated Bicycle Tracks in Delhi?
I just bought a bicycle and now I have big plans to take it to many places. I don't have a car or motorcycle so my cycle is gonna be my vehicle. I want to use it for both exercise and traveling but after riding it yesterday I realized that it is a little dangerous to ride a cycle on Delhi roads which are ruled by blue line buses and always-in-hurry people. I was wondering why can't we have dedicated bicycle tracks on all major roads in Delhi. If you have ever traveled on BRT from ITO to Khan pur you we see that there is a separate track for cyclist. Not only it is safe for them, also they can't disrupt the fast traffic.
I think at least major roads like Ring Road, Outer Ring Road, NH8 should have cycle tracks. It is too dangerous to ride cycle on these roads along with the traffic. My office is 35KMs from my home and I would love to commute by cycle. I would be awesome to travel 70KMs daily on a cycle. Not only health wise but also it is good for environment.
I am a member of Delhi cycling group and I must say that by seeing so many people taking part in cycling events I got inspired to buy my own cycle. A normal healthy person can easily ride 20KMs daily but still everyone use their cars. If someone wants to travel to a far location then may be they can travel half the distance on a cycle and remaining on public transport like Metro or Buses. Besides cycle tracks, government should also focus on building parking facilities for cycles.
Daily I see trillions of cars on Delhi-Gurgaon highway, it seems that everyone on earth has a car except me :) I feel there should be a law that should punish all those people who are traveling alone in the car :p Each car should have at least 2 people, else give them a challan for causing traffic on roads. I feel this is just my wild imagination, this can't happen in India. We people are too used to luxuries and comfort of life, moreover people will never trust strangers to give to lift or car pool.
Government should also subsidies the cycle rates to motivate more people buying a cycle. I hope more and more people start using cycle for their daily commuting.
- ravisagar's blog
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Comments
24 November 2007
10 hours 53 min
Here is the link to the Delhi cycling Club http://groups.google.com/group/delhicycling
Yeah buddy lets do something about it. Lets think what can we do to bring a change.
Was listening to the radio the other day and the jockey was telling the phone-caller why don't you something about the environment rather than criticizing it?
Can we apply that concept here? IMHO we can surely.
Why don't we do something about building specific cycle tracks in Delhi. Lets build a case, not a business-case but a social case which would benefit the community, the environment, the ecosystem.
Congratulations on buying a new cycle. Hawk was my first cycle in school days. Could you please point me to the bicycle club in New Delhi?
Thanks,
Daksh
24 November 2007
10 hours 53 min
Hi Nishant,
I live in North Delhi :) So how often you ride a bicycle and which cycle do you have?
I was searching for cycle tracks in delhi and chanced upon your blog....I feel the same way, i guess that is why i had to comment on your article. I stay on M.G road and drive to my class in GK2 every morning. Any other time would not be possible given the traffic jams on MG road... so basically even people who own cars would like to commute via a stress free mode of transport... even though cars take the physical strain off you, driving in delhi traffic is mentally draining.
I has ridden my motorbike through back roads in ghitorni and found a back route from ghitorni Village to Vasant kunj through the protected forest which is commonly used by locals but hardly anybody else knows about it. If we scan google earth we might be able to connect and find other bike routes, which bypass traffic roads. Lets try to do something instead of waiting for things to change!
Hey Nishant,
Came across your 'Green short Cut' while going through Ravi's blog- I am an architect and currently working on a proposal for our city which talks about the exact same thing that you practice [but for non-motorised modes] ;o)
Scanning google earth and locating green patches for cycle tracks is just what I am doing these days. Infact, your personal short cut is a great way to explain the bigger idea for the city as a whole. I am guessing it helps you bypass the whole Andheria More traffic mess I find myself stuck in daily! Do check out the post on DCC discussion page-http://groups.google.com/group/delhicycling/browse_thread/thread/6097b064df06f527
24 November 2007
10 hours 53 min
I came there but I did not have the bicycle with me so I just watched the people :(. I bought it on Sunday :)
Hey Ravi, got to see your blog for the first time today, keep it going. Did you attend the Delhi Duathlon at Nehru park held recently? You look like a real biking enthusiast!
24 November 2007
10 hours 53 min
I have corrected the typo. Trillions here means huge number :)
but still everyone use their cards>cars
Daily I see trillions of cars on Delhi-Gurgaon highway--->44Lakh vehicles in Delhi+even if 44 lakh are there in neighbouring cities=88Lakh=Nowhere near trillions :D
I agree with u on this tht cycling is not a smooth job for cycle lovers in Delhi. I live very near to where u live, so i can understand why u feel so. Even as early as 6:30 in d morning, d traffic in Delhi is gud enuf to kill anyone. ppl r not even kind to slow vehicles. they can call u names if u come in their way n will never hesitate to crush u if needed. it wud b one of the biggest happiness in my life if i discover a place wehre i can ride my bike for a few hour..
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