Separate cycle tracks sought

Pedal Force suggests pilot on Seaport-Airport Road

Leader of the Opposition in Thripunithura Municipality V.R. Vijayakumar inaugurating a signature collection event at Karingachira on Sunday.

In a bid to encourage cycling among commuters, an organisation of bike riders at Thripunithura has demanded construction of cycle tracks in the city.

If the cycle tracks are constructed, people will be able to undertake safe ride along the roads, according to Joby Kandanad, secretary, Pedal Force. He said the organisation had started collecting signatures urging the State government to construct cycle tracks across the State.

He pointed out the problem faced by the cycle riders was lack of separate roads suitable for them. If the authorities provided sufficient infrastructure including separate cycle tracks for bike riders along the roads, it would save the country a lot by oil saving and would at the same time help reduce vehicle pollution. Thus, it would give an impetus to the economic development of the country, he said.

According to him, the medians of large roads could be converted into cycle tracks. As a result, the tracks could be constructed at a lowest cost, without any land being acquired.

He suggested that as a pilot project, a separate track on the Seaport-Airport Road from Karingachira to Collectorate be constructed on the median of the road. In fact, the four-laning works on the Seaport-Airport Road had already started.

The authorities, therefore, could think of providing a track along the road at least up to the Collectorate, he said.

The signature collection event was inaugurated on Sunday by V.R. Vijayakumar, Opposition Leader in the Thripunithura Municipality at Karigachira. Lowerenace Raju, president of the organisation; P.A. Biju, ward member, and others spoke.