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CHANDIGARH: Just how unsafe the city roads have become for cyclists can be gauged from the fact that 26 of them lost their lives in road accidents from January 1 till August 24 this year, a number higher than the death toll recorded in each of the last three years.
Traffic police record shows 18 cyclists died in 2010, 22 in 2011 and 25 in 2012. Poorly maintained and encroached cycle tracks have forced them to ply on the main roads, where speeding vehicles have dealt them a killer blow. According to police records, most of the fatal casualties have been reported on stretches of Madhya Marg, Dakshin Marg, Sukhna Path and some of the key light points in the city.
64-year old Gurdev Singh and 13-year-old Himanshu Sharma were the latest victims to speeding truck and a car a few days ago. Sunita Devi, 36, was run over by a truck at the transport light point in Sector 26 on August 13.
M P S Chawla, a member of traffic advisory committee, says, 'No doubt, cycling has become risky in the city. Cycle tracks are encroached for parking vehicles. But the main problem is speeding and drunken driving.'
However, Harman Sidhu, who runs NGO ArriveSafe, which sensitizes youth about road safety, believes cyclists too should adopt some precautions. 'Installation of red reflectors on the rear of cycles and painting the front portion of a cycle with yellow or red colour can help the riders prove their presence on roads during night hours. Most importantly, cyclists must use cycle tracks instead of taking the main roads.'
Traffic police record shows 18 cyclists died in 2010, 22 in 2011 and 25 in 2012. Poorly maintained and encroached cycle tracks have forced them to ply on the main roads, where speeding vehicles have dealt them a killer blow. According to police records, most of the fatal casualties have been reported on stretches of Madhya Marg, Dakshin Marg, Sukhna Path and some of the key light points in the city.
64-year old Gurdev Singh and 13-year-old Himanshu Sharma were the latest victims to speeding truck and a car a few days ago. Sunita Devi, 36, was run over by a truck at the transport light point in Sector 26 on August 13.
M P S Chawla, a member of traffic advisory committee, says, 'No doubt, cycling has become risky in the city. Cycle tracks are encroached for parking vehicles. But the main problem is speeding and drunken driving.'
However, Harman Sidhu, who runs NGO ArriveSafe, which sensitizes youth about road safety, believes cyclists too should adopt some precautions. 'Installation of red reflectors on the rear of cycles and painting the front portion of a cycle with yellow or red colour can help the riders prove their presence on roads during night hours. Most importantly, cyclists must use cycle tracks instead of taking the main roads.'
