Imagine a scenario where children cycle to school every day, and people choose to grab a cycle to head down the road for groceries. Also imagine that in this neighbourhood, cars are asked to “keep out for cyclists” as a rule and not an exception.
This Sunday will mark the 175th Cycle Day event planned since the Bengaluru Coalition of Open Streets (BCOS) was formed in October 2013, comprising the Directorate of Urban Land Transport, a State government initiative, along with a group of resident welfare associations and NGOs.
For residents of Sanjaynagar, who have been holding Cycle Day events for a year-and-a-half, the programme has built a sense of community and shared road space, and got more people, young and old, to bring out their cycles. “Today we see plenty of schools in Sanjaynagar where children are cycling from their homes. Around 30 to 40 cycles are parked outside schools where once there were none,” said Sathyashankaran, founding member of Citizens For Sustainability (CiFos), who is one of the people credited with bringing the concept of Cycle Day, a day when residents are encouraged to cycle, to Bengaluru.
The Cycle Day will see separate events held at Sanjaynagar and in Koramangala, where it will be held for the first time. It was started as a monthly event, but soon turned into a weekly one.
The goal is to create a community which seeks better footpaths and infrastructure for cycling, says Sonal Kulkarni, transport planner, DULT.
BCOS is now organising a neighbourhood improvement plan, where neighbourhoods are identified to be made pedestrian-friendly, while also marking our space for vendors.
“We have drawn the blueprint for a dedicated cycle track project in HSR Layout and have given it to the BBMP for implementation,” said Ms. Kulkarni.
In Koramangala, the route will pass through the main arterial roads of the neighbourhood. “We are excited to host the event and hope that people turn out in large numbers to reclaim the streets,” said Nitin Sheshadri, member of Koramangala 3rd Block Resident's Welfare Association.
Events this month
August 7: Sanjaynagar and Koramangala
August 14: R.T. Nagar
August 21: HSR Layout, Gayathrinagar
August 28: Attur Layout, Malleswaram
