The vanishing bicycle tracks

New coat of bitumen and trenches cut for utility lines have damaged the tracks

The cycling track in Jayanagar has been an initiative of the BBMP with technical inputs from the Directorate of Urban Land Transport. Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.

Cyclists who saw dedicated cycling lanes in Jayanagar “encroached upon” by parked cars and two wheelers, have a different problem now.

Under the new coat of bitumen, lanes have vanished at several places and the trenches cut for water and sanitary lines have damaged the tracks.

The nearly 40-km cycling track in Jayanagar has been an initiative of Burhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) since 2012 with technical inputs from Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) having appropriate bicycle signage and other infrastructure.

All that remains on the stretch on Elephant Rock Road where road has been dug up, and South End Road due to fresh coat of asphalt are the signage.

Tracks to be earmarked

Jayanagar MLA B.N. Vijaykumar said: “The affected parts of cycling tracks will be restored after the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) completes the water and sanitary works.” The tracks will also be earmarked after the completion asphalting work, he added.

Insensitive

On encroachment of tracks by cars, he lamented that despite awareness, motorists have been insensitive, and that police help would be sought to keep the tracks clear for cyclists.

Learn from experience

Meanwhile, H.R. Murali of Ride A Cycle Foundation, which worked closely with the Bicycle Friendly Streets project in Jayanagar, said that many agencies were involved in the project, and “slowly we have to learn from experience.”

The existing infrastructure set up for cyclists have to be evaluated to improve the existing tracks, he added.