Cyclists using the Second and Sixth Avenues in Anna Nagar will soon get to ride on a dedicated bicycle track as Chennai Corporation is set to float a tender for the first phase of the project within a fortnight.
Officials of the civic body said that a total of 14-km-long bicycle track has been planned in Anna Nagar. In the first phase, track running to a distance of four km would be created on these two Avenues. Nearly Rs.5 crore has been allocated for the pilot project, which does not require land acquisition.
The cycle track, about 3 metre wide, would come up on the two arterial roads. The roads that would get bicycle tracks in the next phase include Shanthi Colony Road and First, Third and Fifth Avenues in Anna Nagar.
The project is being implemented in phases as other developmental works, particularly road improvement, is being accorded priority. A minimum of Rs.20 crore is necessary to implement the entire project, the officials said.
Bicycle tracks would be provided parallel to the footpath on Sixth Avenue as the traffic is relatively less, said Raj Cherubal, Director (Projects), Chennai City Connect, a non-governmental organisation that is offering consultancy services to the civic body.
The service lane concept would be implemented for the track on Second Avenue, which has commercial establishments. The design would have fast moving vehicles segregated from slow moving ones based on the Shangai-model.
The slow moving vehicles would be provided a track parallel to pavement. Bicycle tracks would be created between the lane for slow moving vehicles and parking lot to protect cyclists from speedy vehicles, he said.
Besides raising the height of road space by a few inches and providing signages, there are plans to colour bicycle track to differentiate it from other lanes. “Once proven successful, we hope this model would be replicated in other areas of the city,” he added.
The first phase is expected to take four months.
