Sh. Vivek Phansalkar, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Mumbai, India: Effect dedicated cycling track on Marine Drive promenade
Non-motorised road users - bicyclists & pedestrians included - are entitled to dignity & respect. They must also be subject to regulations & rules of proper traffic discipline. The first step of the process, however, is demarcating a separate lane where entitlements & regulations can be effected.
Background: One Indian dies on India's road every 4 minutes. In the year 2012, for which National Crime Records Bureau details are available, three thousand bicyclists didn't reach home on a fatal evening.
Pause for a second; think again: three thousand families mourned.
Another 12,000 pedestrians perished.
Pan-India, 14.7% 'pedestrian' and 13.9% victims of 'two wheeler' victims were from Maharashtra alone.
Give your voice to this petition:
https://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Sh_Vivek_Phansalkar_Joint_Commissioner_of_Police_Traffic_Mumbai_India_Effect_dedicated_cycling_track_on_Marine_Drive_pro/?ngxgIbb
Past Initiatives:
1) In 2009, Indian Express reported that BMC came up with a cycle-track plan to decongest roads. Consultants were to be contracted to study where cycle tracks should be created. Neighbourhoods of Malabar Hill, Juhu, Lokhandwala Complex, Carter Road, etc. were to be studied. Present status of this initiative is unclear.
2) In 2010, MMRDA had constructed dedicated bicycle lanes on the internal roads of Bandra-Kurla Complex. But, DNA reported that the Rs 6.48 crore spent on the project came to nought. Present status of this initiative is unclear as well.
Hope: It was reported in May of 2013 that BMC is planning a dedicated cycling track on the Marine Drive promenade. Vivek Phansalkar, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) was quoted as saying, "The path will be of use to cyclists, especially in the mornings on Saturdays and Sundays". The long-term plan was to keep the tracks open for users throughout the day.
Please sign this petition to the Joint Commissioner to ensure that the above goal doesn't just remain that:
https://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Sh_Vivek_Phansalkar_Joint_Commissioner_of_Police_Traffic_Mumbai_India_Effect_dedicated_cycling_track_on_Marine_Drive_pro/?ngxgIbb
Hoping for the best!
Fellow cyclist,
Gaurav Sobti