Authorities push the pedal for a bicycle-friendly Bangalore

Bangalore could well be a cyclist’s paradise with five pilot projects being prepared in the next six months to make the city cycling-friendly. Stating that funds would not be a constraint, the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and Department of Urban Land Transport (DULT) have vowed to facilitate cycling and make buses a priority in the city.

Reports of five pilot projects will be prepared in the next six months and implemented by the year-end, said Manjula V, commissioner, DULT.

The onus is now on organisations like Praja.in and Ride a Cycle Foundation to find ways to realise these plans. Praja has been asked to come up with a map of cycling routes and create a plan for Bus Priority System in three weeks’ time. If the deadline is met, Bangaloreans could cycle across Metro stations, bus stops and several kilometres mostly in Jayanagar, Koramangala, JP Nagar and the Central Business District.

The first project is all set be implemented by February in Jayanagar, where a few roads would be made conducive to cycling. A pre-feasibility study is being done in Madiwala. Five areas in the city will have cycle-friendly streets by the year-end. A master plan on cycling would be evolved from observations from these projects.

A charter would be made on what different agencies could do to support the initiative, said Manjula while speaking at an urban mobility workshop held on Monday.

While the conceptualising and planning would be done by the DULT, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike would implement the project. The Palike would either be asked to provide funds or the requirement would be met by state-level or city-level funding, she said. The BBMP would be responsible for civic works and junction treatment. The DULT would hold a discussion with BBMP commissioner Siddaiah on January 18.

Revival is on cards for the defunct non-motorised transport (NMT) cell with representation from various organisations. Transport commissioner Bhaskar Rao proposed the name of Manjula as chairperson of the cell. The NMT policy is awaiting the government’s approval, said Manjula.

In another boost to cyclists, four malls in the city have agreed to provide parking space for cycles. Traffic and Transit Management centres (TTMCs) and Metro stations will be approached to create such parking spaces, said Rao.

In Jayanagar, the infrastructure for parking cycles would be created at 30 locations. Broad lanes could be physically segregated, with 2m being set aside for cyclists. In narrow streets, mixed traffic would be allowed while measures like traffic calming would be taken up.

Members from the audience at the workshop urged the NMT to come up with ways to increase the number of people taking to cycling. The government could also subsidise cycle prices which would curb thefts, they suggested. Manjula responded that a business model for renting out cycles by an independent entrepreneur would be welcome.

As part of the move to make buses a priority, a dedicated lane for them would be created on some roads. Others ideas would be devised for narrow roads.

The idea is to remove choke points at junctions and make them easier for buses, said ABIDe member RK Misra.

Manjula said that Comprehensive Traffic and Transportation Study has identified 300 km for Bus Rapid Transit System in the state. She added that roads that cannot support exclusive bus lanes may have to take in mixed traffic.

A Ravindra, advisor to the chief minister on urban affairs, said the city needed to discourage the use of private vehicles. A communication strategy should be evolved to spread awareness about these initiatives and encourage citizens’ participation, said Ravindra. BMTC managing director Syed Zameer Pasha also spoke at the workshop.