Bengaluru: No separate lane, cyclists' life on the line!

Bengaluru: The over 30 km stretch of Ballari Road, leading to the  Kempegowda International Airport was planned and built keeping in mind only the speeding traffic heading towards or from the airport and the heavy vehicles going to Ballari. Pedestrians and cyclists were ignored. Not surprisingly 38-year-old cycling enthusiast,  Menaka Gulvady was mowed down  by a speeding airport taxi on this busy stretch Thursday, and succumbed to serious head injury.

“With no checks on over-speeding, rash driving has become a nightmare for pedestrians and cyclists here,” says Mr Kishore, a local resident, adding, “We literally risk our lives when we cross this multi-lane road.” “The entire stretch from the city to the airport is a ‘No go’ for pedestrians, cyclists or light speed motor vehicles as they are  vulnerable to accidents here,” agrees Mr Lakshmipathy H.M. a local resident who owns a provision store on Sugata Road.

“The engineers who designed the road should have had the foresight to keep in mind the requirements of not just vehicles heading for the airport but also of locals who commute short distances or pedestrians or cyclists who use it, ” he points out, contending that it would have been a world standard highway if the engineers had included a raised 5ft wide pedestrian path  and a  5-ft dedicated cycling path beneath it on either side of the service  road.

Cyclists at the mercy of speeding vehicles
A large numbers of cyclists,  including foreigners, are out on the Ballari Road, especially in the mornings.  A good number work at the airport and nearby firms and live in apartment complexes in  Maruthinagar, Bharathinagar, Kodigehalli and surrounding areas. While most cycle for  health and well being, and also to do their bit to reduce air pollution,  they are not safe on the road as there is no dedicated cycling lane for them and are at the mercy of the speeding vehicles.

Cycle lanes are a distant dream in the city. Although Jayanagar introduced them, they turned into parking lots for two-wheelers and cars later.

Dedicated cycle lane, not safety gear, the solution
Cycle enthusiasts often wear branded safety standard gear, but it clearly cannot protect them in serious accidents. Cyclist Maneka Gulvady, who was hit by a speeding vehicle, was wearing a bicycle helmet, kneecaps and other safety gear, but the impact was such that she was thrown five feet into the air before she fell into a dry storm water drain suffering fatal head, stomach and leg injuries. “The cab had bald tyres and so the driver could not steer it away from the cyclist when it lost control,” the Yelahanka traffic police said. “A dedicated cycle lane close to the pedestrian walk would be the ideal solution,  something like on Mount Road in Chennai,” said a senior traffic police officer.

Cyclist to be laid to rest today
Maneka Gulvady will be laid to rest on Saturday  at the Hebbal crematorium. Her parents arrived in the city on Friday and friends, family and relatives will be allowed to pay their last respects to her between 12 noon and 2pm at her Kodigehalli homebefore she is cremated, according a family friend, Lakshmi.

Maneka Gulvady

Hundreds of condolence messages appeared from cycle enthusiasts and friends of Menaka Gulvady on social media with cyclist friends appealing to one another – to be VERY, VERY CAUTIOUS when riding on highways. Their message also stated, SAFETY FIRST ~ PASSION LATER.

Points to remember
1   100% ATTENTIVENESS ( wrong side vehicles ), don't use earphones.
During Brevets/Long distances: If tired/sleepy, one often tends to look down. It's time to take a break/nap.
2  Make yourself VISIBLE - Wear bright apparels n helmet.’
Bright lights - front & multiple rear blinker (on bike+ helmet, etc). Stick extra Reflector tapes visible from front, rear and sides too.
3  If you have to take a right turn at intersection: Stop & get down from saddle n drag your bike.
4  Changing lane: If one has to come even little to the inner side of road, it's better to stop.
5  Carry visible information: Name, Address, Emergency contact name and nos., blood group etc.

The North division traffic police has been given five speed interceptors to help it penalize vehicles which may be over-speeding and ensure lane discipline.

Five speed interceptors, but only one in use
While the North division traffic police has been given five speed interceptors to help it penalize vehicles which may be over-speeding and ensure lane discipline,  only one interceptor  is used for the entire stretch from Hebbal to the airport. The speed limit of the vehicles on the road is 80 km per hour, but most vehicles travel at 100 km, says a traffic police officer.

North Division DCP, Renuka however defends the police saying of the five interceptors, two have been given to Yelahanka, two to Chikkajala and only one to Hebbal. “All are used on a given day. On an average  we book over 200 cases of over-speeding and over 400 cases of lane indiscipline every day,”she adds.