I could not believe my eyes! when I saw a board titled "CYCLE TRACK". I checked myself twice, was that wrongly spelled for "Cycle Stand"? 'Bhayya, ye board kyun laga huva hai?' I asked a passerby to verify myself. Indeed, it was meant for cycle and it is a cycle track.
No...I am not in Canada, US, Germany or UK to get astonished to see a cycle track or Bicycle lane (I have not been to any of them so far). I am overwhelmed to say the least, that, it is in fact in India, and that too in Bhubaneshwar, state capital of Orissa state, one of the adversely hit state over the years with natural calamities, most malnutritioned state and not 'so called' tech savvy. I saw this board on Janapath (the main road in Bhubaneswar) and on the way towards Nandankanan Zoological Park. More importantly, people are using this track and tracks are really good too.
Those who have peddled their way in Bangalore would agree with me for the need a cycle track. I peddle down from Sanjaynagar to IISc, through 60ft road and then New BEL road. Often I feared of cycling in this road, not because speeding vehicles would crush me, but for the traffic jams that I might create at the speed in which I move (2.4km in 9min), and at places where I have to crossover. In Bangalore, in such conjested city, even 'thinking' about cycle track becomes a crime. Few months back, we had an 'auto lane' on this road, now the roads have got a face lift, yet there is no sign of a safe cycling track.
But what an eye opener I had from Bhubaneswar. Its not poor or rich, nor its tech or not-tech or high-tech, its only the 'mind set' that brings about the change. My hearty congratulations to Orissa Government for showing the way to many across the Nation that if the Government has real concern towards people, it would certainly do.
6 comments:
Hi, It was a pleasant surprise to see a dedicated track to cyclists in the heart of Bhubaneswar! If my memory serves right, our ex B'lore commsr, ex mp always current clown Shri Sangliana had announced a dedicated auto lane in the major roads. As expected it led to chaos and had to be scrapped. As our current CM has done us proud by giving free cycles to school kds,shall we expect him to order some dedicated lanes amongst green bengaluru where the kids get to use their cycles?
It was very nice & I think its good if cycle track introduced in major cities like Bengalooru, Mangalooru & ofcourse Shivamogga....
Being in IISc Campus is a bless for the ones who love cycling. Few years back even Thane City introduced the cycle tracks on some of the major raods but it is pathetic to say that the space was taken up by the cars from the nearby BPO's.
Its a commendable effort in the part of Orissa Govt.
Let us expect the same at B,lore very soon...
Dinesh
I really appreciate. This is a nice initiative .This way we promote the use of eco friendly bicycles ... Kudos ~~~
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