RAJKUMAR DAS : Several cycle teams throughout the State got here collectively and submitted a “Charter of Demands to promote Cycling” to all political events contesting for the 2021 Bengal elections to incorporate in their meeting assembly and implementation plan the necessity for sustainable biking and cycle secure infrastructure for the State. The calls for embody removing of cycle restrictions from Kolkata and instantly implement a cycle secure infrastructural plan for the state together with Kolkata – for selling a cost-efficient, secure and an eco-friendly city commute within the metropolis. In the press convention organized right this moment by a community of all cycle teams throughout the state at Press Club Kolkata.
Satanjib Gupta , “Bicycle Mayor of Kolkata”, BYCS stated – “Cycling ban in Kolkata is hitting hard to our Domestic workers, milkmen, newspaper delivery men, factory employees, delivery boys and other workers, who do not have the luxury of working from home or taking expensive transport every day to work resort to cycling or walking as the sole means of commute”
The presentation made on the press meet identified that the National Transport Policy of the State recognises bicycle as probably the most broadly used technique of transportation within the State. In reality, many individuals from peri-urban and neighbouring rural areas like newspaper vendor, milkmen and many others. make a dwelling day by day by transporting in a bicycle. Many use bi-cycle because the one technique of commute to take care of socially distanced touring in a COVID-19 affected world. Data from a number of out there sources recommend that the bicycle market has boomed in India. Kolkata has a well-developed public transit system which makes it much more related for town to undertake largescale biking.
The cycle teams – KCS, KCAAJRC, 2 Wheels, Cycos, Cyclops, CNG, Argo and lots of others who have been current on the occasion stated “That everybody can entry biking as an reasonably priced technique of commuting and assist Kolkata change into a cycling-friendly metropolis by safeguarding the rights and pursuits of pedestrians and cyclists. Several research have revealed that Kolkata, like every other metropolitan metropolis in India, the expansion in motorization within the metropolis has turned the tide towards a sustainable city mobility mannequin and sustaining the air high quality of town. “
Vinay Jaju convenor of Bengal-CAN stated that “Leaders , Police etc say that narrow streets of Kolkata are a reason to ban cycles, infact small road space makes the cycle even more relevant. We have to think beyond cars or out cities will be unlivable with the congestion and pollution. Cycles not cars have be at the centre of our urban mobility plan and instead of car parking space and more roads being widened for cars, cycle lanes need to be given priority”
Several first world nations like Europe which have much more slim roads than Kolkata have already found out methods of utilizing the present street capability extra effectively by encouraging plying of NMTs, cycles and reclaiming street areas for pedestrians and cyclists’. Besides internationally biking is taken into account as sustainable mode of transportation useful in decreasing carbon emissions. Switching from automotive to bicycle saves 150 g of CO2 per kilometer .Each 7 km by bicycle will save an emission of 1 kilogram of CO2 as in comparison with the identical distance coated by automotive.
Raghu Jana, Convenor of Kolkata Cycle Samaj stated that “After COVID the economy of the State needs a boost. Ordinary people’s income has decreased. Bicycles are the sole transport option for low-income communities who travel daily for work. We are urging the government to take initiative for safe and uninterrupted cycling in Kolkata, encourage cycling and stop fines for cycling.”
A latest analysis prompt that Kolkata had 29 cities aside from the 7 present non-attainment cities the place the air high quality is degrading at a rampant price. Additionally, a Lancet-ICMR research uncovered that Bengal has 11 occasions extra deaths than COVID-19 in 2019 which price the economic system 2125 million US {dollars}. The transport sector is a significant contributor of gaseous pollution. NEERI Source Apportionment Study of 2019 revealed that about 30% of winter air pollution in Kolkata might be traced from vehicular emissions. Cycles present an alternate sustainable transport choice for thousands and thousands dwelling in cities like Kolkata the place journey distances are brief and commuting time in personal automobiles are excessive on account of heavy congestion.
Citizens demanded in direction of :
1. Implementation of secure bicycle lanes and Infrastructures
2. Promote biking as a sport with acceptable infrastructures
3. Remove all biking restrictions and ‘No Cycling’ Boards throughout Kolkata
4. Stop fining bike owner besides if the break visitors guidelines
5. Set up stands for parking bicycles at railways, metro stations, and many others
6. Declare in the future monthly as “Car Free Day”
7. Implementation of complete mobility plan with KMDA on cycles, NMT and Public Transport
Political events contesting for this 12 months’s election have already promised a number of alternatives for the state’s economically challenged communities. Inclusion of bicycles within the present transport system is not going to simply higher livelihood entry for marginal communities however can even encourage low emissions commutes and assist livelihoods of lacs of individuals.
Discussion about this post