Sarika Panda Bhatt, Manager (City and Transport) with Embarq, India, has decided to cycle from her house in Malibu Town to her workplace on MG Road on September 22, which is being observed as a ‘Car Free Day’ in Gurgaon.
Ms. Bhatt is not the only one. As many as 40 Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and other prominent personalities in the city, including Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Bharti Arora and JCP (Headquarter) Saurabh Singh, have decided to shun their cars for a day and pedal to their workplace.
Joint Commissioner of Police Bharti Arora, meanwhile, has already started cycling to her office in Sushant Lok days before September 22 saying it is “good for health”. “I was a bit nervous on the first day. But it turned out to be good fun. It helps the atmosphere as well,” said Ms. Arora.
Ms. Bhatt, for instance, had moved to Gurgaon from Dwarka four years ago and shifted to cycling, instead of driving, because of the “scary traffic”.
“I found it difficult to drive in the mess Gurgaon traffic is. Public transport is also not easily available, you need to travel at least two kilometre to get an auto. So, I bought a bicycle. Not always, but most of the times I go to office on my bicycle, which is around 20 kms from my house on Sohna Road,” said Ms. Bhatt.
However, she does find lack of infrastructure a deterrent for cycling. “The roads in Gurgaon are wide enough to incorporate separate tracks for cyclists. I would advise people not to take cars for fetching milk from a nearby market or to ferry their children to schools. Everyday 40,000 cars are on the road because parents prefer cars over school buses,” said Ms. Bhatt.
Nitin Seth, Country Head (Fidelty), who has also decided to cycle to his workplace on September 22, says that it is good that the administration has finally woken up to the problem of traffic. “Traffic congestion is routine. This way the city will be dead in 10 years. It is good that the administration has finally woken up. The Car Free Day is a good example of partnership between the police, civic agencies, industry and citizen groups. Shunning cars and opting for public transport is the way to go,” said Mr. Sethi.
Manas Fuloria, CEO (Nagarro), who has been cycling to his workplace at least once a week on an average, says that driving your car everywhere is like being addicted to junk food. “It will destroy your physical and mental health over time. Opt for walking, cycling and public transport. Also, check out car-pooling and app-based mobility services,” says Mr. Fuloria.
