DISTRICT PLUS

Pedal your way around Mysore

A cycle track developed by the Mysore City Corporation on Lalitha Mahal Road in Mysore.— Photo: M.A. SRIRAM  

Despite being the country’s fastest growing tier-II city, Mysore has managed to retain much of its old charm. The bicycle was once an important mode of transport and once ruled the roads here. Even as top-end luxury cars, including the high-speed ones, vroom around the city, there are still people who ride bicycles for local commuting in spite of rising vehicular traffic and very little space left for them on the roads due to booming automobile ownership. Nevertheless, Mysore is still considered a “cyclist-friendly” city and a place where non-motorised transport, primarily cycling, can be popularised. If the district administration is showing special interest to popularise cycling and initiate a ‘bicycle sharing system’, safe commuting lanes for cyclists are a must to rope in more number of people into this “green initiative.” The roads are not so safe for cyclists in the absence of dedicated space for them.

Understanding the need for dedicated cycle tracks owing to repeated appeals by the people promoting the idea of cycling for a “greener Mysore,” the first-ever cycle track has come up on Lalitha Mahal Road, which has high vehicular traffic density. The 4-km long cycle track was completed a few months ago and the authorities propose to expand it further. But, such tracks are also needed on other roads to generate

In its resolve to recreate interest towards the eco-friendly non-motorised mode of transport – cycling – and thereby make Mysore a “model cycling city”, the district administration asked the government officers and staff to cycle to work on Mondays. This campaign for bicycle promotion evoked mixed response on the inaugural day – June 25 – with several of them riding cycles to their respective offices here. Despite the call, many still preferred to go to work in motorised two-wheelers and cars.

Nevertheless, the administration is happy that its call was taken seriously by at least some people and responded to the campaign. It hopes that others will follow suit in the coming weeks and ensure that the effort sets an example for others.





Welcome move

“The campaign has been described as a welcome move. People have noticed the effort. The officers and employees must sustain the campaign. We can keep our vehicles at home and use other modes of transport – public transport – to make a difference. If people cannot pedal cycles, they can come by bus or reach their offices by foot. This may be small effort, but the result could be noticeable if others replicate the model,” said Deputy Commissioner P.S. Vastrad.

Making use of available space upon improving the road, the Mysore City Corporation developed the cycling zone or cycle track on one side of the busy Lalitha Mahal Road. The track has good shade as it has come up along the tall trees on the road which is surrounded by heritage buildings. This stretch on Lalitha Mahal Road was identified for developing the track as cyclists had a tough time to commute on the busy road because of heavy traffic. There was a risk factor for the cyclists and accidents had also been reported. But, there is safety now for cyclists.

The then MCC Commissioner K.S. Raikar had said that the track will be expanded till Bannur Road (about 4 km) from Lalitha Mahal Road. Afterwards, the same track will be developed till Vani Vilas Double Road covering a distance of about 4 km, from the beginning of Lalitha Mahal Road stretch. The idea was to make the total length of the track around 12 km, covering more roads, for free cycle movement.

Although the official launch of the cycle track is pending, cyclists have started using the track. But the work on expanding the track has not taken off. Perhaps, the district administration’s ongoing initiative to promote cycling may accentuate the project.

Already, a committee had been set up to identify roads within a radius of 20 km in the city and provide dedicated space for cyclists. A team of officials led by Mr. Vastrad visited several locations in the city to identify roads for developing cycle tracks on the lines of the one developed on Lalitha Mahal Road. MUDA Commissioner C.G. Betsurmath, new MCC Commissioner M.R. Ravi, ACP (Traffic) Shankare Gowda and others accompanied him. The administration wants to develop tracks on either side of the road.

After discussions, the officials have proposed to develop cycle tracks at the following places: Ramswamy Circle to Railway Station (1.5 km), Irwin Road to Ayurveda College Circle (650 m), Ayurveda College Circle to Highway Circle (2 km), Nelson Mandela Road to LIC junction (1.2 km), and LIC junction to JSS Medical College (1.4 km). The proposed track between MUDA junction and Bogadi (4.7 km) is the longest. Dasappa Circle to Contour Road touching KRS Road (3.3 km), K.G. Koppal signal to Deputy Commissioner’s office en route Krishnaraja Boulevard (1.8 km), Ramaswamy Circle to Ekalavya Circle en route Chamaraja Double Road (500 m) and around Mysore Palace (2.5 km) are the other tracks.

If these tracks become a reality, more people are expected to come forward to take up cycling since the safety issues will be addressed with the setting up of dedicated tracks for cycle movement.

Welcome move

Taking a cue from the district administration, the Mysore Palace Board has introduced a system to rent cycles for tourists to go around the palace premises. “This eco-friendly way of touring the palace complex has been welcomed by the tourists,” said Palace Board Deputy Director T.S. Subramanya. Ten cycles and 50 umbrellas are available for use after a deposit, which is refundable, he said, adding that this will be an added feature of tourism promotion as there are takers for ‘cycle tourism’.

Foreign tourists like to go around on bicycles. In fact, the MCC had made an attempt in the past to launch “cycle tourism” during Dasara. There was a plan to make bicycles, including the geared, sports and recreational kinds, available for tourists on hire basis. The proposal was also welcomed by the representatives from the tourism industry here who said it will be an “added advantage” to boost tourism.

Bike rentals in Goa are hugely popular among tourists there, particularly international tourists. Therefore, cycle rentals in Mysore were proposed. It was planned to make use of the cycle renting points as help desks for tourists (for guidance on tourist spots and other information). But, the corporation did not pursue the project despite identifying about 35 locations in Mysore, Srirangapatna and Brindavan Gardens because of constraints in funding.

In the recent months, there were talks on pursuing the “cycle tourism” plan with the Centre selecting the city under a pilot project to develop bicycle culture and encourage the use of cycles among tourists. Besides Mysore, nine other Indian cities have been identified for building cycling infrastructure under the project aiming at promoting eco-friendly non-motorised transport for minimising carbon emissions.

Under this, Mysore is expected to get bicycles (in good numbers) and infrastructure such as parking lots for these bicycles. Cycling lanes will be developed in addition to installing signages for cyclists on the roads.

Mysore had been identified as one of the pilot cities for the bicycle project since it is a popular tourist destination and the use of bicycles can be promoted among tourists for visiting tourist spots located in and around the city (in about 15 to 20 km).

Panels formed

Already, the corporation had submitted its plan under the project to the transport wing of the Union Ministry of Urban Development and is awaiting approval and funding.

Four committees had been formed at the Centre to decide on the project and develop ideas for making cycling popular.

A lot of promotional activities had been done in the city to popularise Mysore as a cyclist’s city in the recent years. But, there is a sharp rise in the number of automobiles. Statistics have revealed that the number of car buyers has increased substantially. On the flip side, road space is shrinking and not much space is left to widen the roads further, thus causing traffic congestion.

Thanks to the introduction of school vans even in small cities, students have stopped using bicycles to their schools. Bicycle rental shops are also disappearing. There were times when Mysore city had several such shops. Now, automobiles have replaced bicycles on the streets. Each shop used to have at least 10 to 20 bicycles for hiring. Today, many shops have disappeared although the city has many bicycle showrooms.

“People have no time for cycling. They have become time conscious and own the latest automobiles. How can bicycle rental shops survive when the road space has been occupied by automobiles,” asks a local resident, who was going to his office on his bicycle.

Shankar Bennur



An effort to create interest in an eco-friendly non-motorised mode of transport in Mysore