Riding for awareness

Cyclists discuss rising pollution with voters in west Delhi

NEW DELHI, 23/04/2017: Ajay Chawla from Tagore Garden came to vote in a cycle.Chawla saying no party is talking about the issue of pollution and pedestrian safety during on the polling day of MCD electin at Rajouri Garden in West Delhi on Sunday. Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar NEW DELHI, 23/04/2017: Ajay Chawla from Tagore Garden came to vote in a cycle.Chawla saying no party is talking about the issue of pollution and pedestrian safety during on the polling day of MCD electin at Rajouri Garden in West Delhi on Sunday. Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar - MCD POLLING DAY

As Delhiites were busy choosing their councillors on Sunday, members of a cycling group in west Delhi went to each polling station in the area to spread awareness about the alarming rise in pollution levels in the city and road safety — after casting their vote of course.

Ajay Chawla, a resident of Tagore Garden, and a member of the cycling group said they wanted to attract the attention of the government and parties on issues such as environment protection and pedestrian infrastructure.

“No political party had a detailed plan on environmental protection in the elections. No one wants to do anything about the toxic air we, and our children, are breathing. The issues are still the old

bijli and

paani [electricity and water], but you need these only when you stay alive,” Mr. Chawla said.

Mr. Chawla said they are also raising the problem of lack of safe infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists. The few cycling tracks in Delhi have been encroached upon or are under-maintained, he said, adding that there is no effort to make new ones or to redo the existing ones.

Unsafe roads

“Walking and cycling in Delhi is almost like risking our life. People cannot walk or cross the roads without fearing that a speeding vehicle will mow them down. Sadly, the government is encouraging the car culture we have,” Mr. Chawla said.

The group, which comprises over a dozen cyclists, covered parts of Rajouri Garden, Tagore Garden, Tilak Nagar, Raghubir Nagar, Patel Nagar, and Rajender Nagar.