HOT TOPICS
SPOTLIGHT AGENCIES
Bangalore Gets Its First Bicycle Lane
Written By muralihr - 8 July, 2012
Bangalore Citizen Reports cycle infrastructure bicycle
RACF is happy to tell the prajas of bangalore that the first infrastructure for Bicycles is being put to place in bangalore. Finally Bangalore Gets its First Bicyle Lane. The Project is still 60% completed. The Jayanagar Bicycle Project intends to do the following ;
1> Create Safe Corridors for Cycling.
We started this project to move the cyclists away from the main road into Safe Havens where they will have relatively less traffic and hence more safety. So we identified the roads which the school kids generally take to avoid traffic. And we connected all the dots to get a network of bicycle friendly streets.
Dr Sudhira from Gubbi Labs who did the consultancy for the project suggested some changes in Junctions. Around 40 junctions were made pedestrian friendly and bicycle friendly. The Project envisioned painting 100 m from all such junctions so that the cyclist gets his space at the junctions so that he can cross over to another cycle friendly street.
2> Create Bicycle Parking Facilities in all parks and grounds
We are also speaking to some corporate to sponsor the bicycle racks. Soon we will be installing around 20 racks at 20 places.
3> Bring Bicycle to Focus in urban planning
One of the greatest learning in the whol exercise is the political participation and political support played a very crucial role and BBMP allocated some amount for bicycle infrastructure.
Yet the following actions are pending :
BBMP has to put the signages declaring the bicycle lanes.
BBMP has to install the maps and also information to promote bicycle usage in Jayanagar.
BBMP has to redesign few more junctions to give complete connectivity.
Videos / Photos attached.
Murali
RACF
COMMENTS
Cars are being parked on bicycle lanes
Vasanth - 9 July, 2012 - 06:36
Hi Murali,
Welcome to Praja. I appreciate the steps taken.
I pass between Ashoka Pillar and Madhavan Park daily. Always, cars are parked on these bicycle lanes. There is no enforcement. It has just become that 'we have cycle lanes' for name sake.
I wrote on BTP's wall on Facebook. No reply from them yet.
I personally feel, unless we segregate it physically by putting lane dividers using cement blocks, this will never be successful in India.
Thanks,
Vasanth
muralihr - 9 July, 2012 - 09:27
Enforcement needs to be co-ordinated between BBMP and Traffic Police as the notification has to be issued by BBMP commissioner. As mentioned we need to wait for the completion of the project to see the effect of the small step taken.
Cement blocks can be put once the cyclists start using the lane and we see increasing demand from the cyclists. Now cyclists are not vocal and they do not have sufficient force to lobby for themselves.
m
idontspam - 9 July, 2012 - 13:28
Good work Murali, your perseverance has paid off.
Violation of bicycle lane needs to be codified in the list of punishable offences. It may require either the traffic police or the transport dept to do the same via a notification.
Denmark's new biking superhighway !
amitc - 19 July, 2012 - 09:01
For all the cycling enthusiasts, here is a dream we can hope to for India and for namma Bengaluru to lead the way!
srinidhi - 10 July, 2012 - 06:23
Identification of places where parking can be shifted to will be imperative before parking can be banned..building multi level parking lots sounds like a solution..
@murali: what will be the maintenance plan for the lanes being marked in Jayanagar..what happens when the road is relaid or dugup by different agencies
PRAJA.IN COMMENT GUIDELINES
Posting Guidelines apply for comments as well. No foul language, hate mongering or personal attacks. If criticizing third person or an authority, you must be fact based, as constructive as possible, and use gentle words. Avoid going off-topic no matter how nice your comment is. Moderators reserve the right to either edit or simply delete comments that don't meet these guidelines. If you are nice enough to realize you violated the guidelines, please save Moderators some time by editing and fixing yourself. Thanks!