By Qamar ZJ
The work on the pop-up bicycle lane project that began last month with road-milling work is now seeing some visible improvements, such as a actual lane coming up on the service road adjacent to the Outer Ring Road in KR Puram. While the cyclists are thrilled by this development, they have some concerns that the authorities need to address for the long-term sustainability of the project.
A cycle lane has come up near Lowry Memorial College in KR Puram. With bollards all the way, cyclists are wondering how the green band and cycle drawing for the lane will happen with the bollards for company. Besides, others are not too sure about the success of the lane due to narrow roads in some stretches, with open drains and debris for company. While some residents believe that it’s a good start, they also want the authorities to minimise their misgivings towards the project to ensure the cycle lane’s long-term success.
Some suggestions…
Cyclist Nihar Thakkar had two concerns. “How are they going to paint the green band and bicycle symbol on the lane after installing bollards?” he asks. “There are too many bollards! Is it worth exploring shorter barriers/blocks to protect the lane?”
Usability questions
Siddarth Khandelwal is not too happy about the cycle lane’s usability. “I live right here,” he says, referring to the ORR in KR Puram where the cycle lanes have come up. “The roads are built in a manner that don’t permit creating a bike lane throughout. The roads are narrow, and broken, with open drains and debris. Not a pleasent biking experience. I feel it’s another project for the heck of it, like the bus lane.” Yash Desai had other concerns. “Wait until it is encroached by street vendors or homeless people because that’s the story of every bicycle and pedestrian lane,” he says. Krishna Haranath is hoping that the walkers don’t take over this space. Other residents believe that once cyclists start using the lane, the encroachers will automatically vacate the space.
Vivek Saxena wanted to know the lifespan of the dividers on Bengaluru roads? “They wouldn’t last a month with Mumbai traffic,” he says. Prinu George had a more immediate concern: “These are one-ways, and seem narrower than I saw last. Thought it was wide enough for two way.” Ajay Kumar said, he was happy to see the lane, but was “very skeptical if this will last long”.
‘Expect incremental progress’
For all the criticism heaped on the first look of the cycle lane, some residents practiced patience. “The cycle lane looks good, but comments on this development are so critical,” says Raghunandan Rao. “We have to start some day some where.”
Sathya Sankaran, Bicycle Mayor of Bangalore, echoed Rao’s feelings. “Please use it and fix problems incrementally,” he says. “You’ll not get the perfect outcome on day one.”
‘Will encourage active travel’
Dominic Franks believes that the cycle lane will encourage active travelling. “It’s good for one’s legs, better for the city’s lungs,” he says. “Go Bengaluru! One revolution at a time.”
Sagar Sharma was happy with the new development: “Now it will be easy to cycle on Outer Ring Road (ORR). I hope, most of the big roads get a cycle lane.”
Mission Decongestion
In their mission to decongest Outer Ring Road, the authorities are doing their bit with bus priority lanes, cycle lanes, and even cycle racks on BMTC buses on the busy and important stretch of ORR that connects several neighbourhoods of Bangalore. This is particularly important as the Centre is taking its time to approve the Rs 14,844 crore ORR-Airport Metro line, which many residents feel would alleviate the transportation woes of Bangaloreans, both in the immediate and long-term.
