E-Paper
Activist believes it is difficult to revive Pune as the bicycle city
Major General (retd) SCN Jatar was the head of the Indian Military Training Team and chief instructor at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, Nigeria. He is also a member of the Advisory Council for Public Concern for Governance Trust (PCGT) Pune. Following are the edited excepts from his interview to HT.
How feasible is the cycle track project?
They have already constructed over 100 kilometres of cycle track and half of it is being encroached upon. It is being used by two wheelers and autorickshaws and now they are making a new one. I have two points to make; Have they conducted a survey to find out as to which are the areas where there are more cyclists and if they will use it? They have not done that. And, when they do things without surveys, the tracks end up unused. It is a waste of money.
PMC is going to spend ₹300 crores…
Yes I know. I think they can use it for cycle tracks if they proceed in a systematic way by carrying out a survey, find out where it is required, where it is used and make sure it is not encroached upon. Only then, it is worth spending so much money.
PMC has brought-in consultants to help make a better cycle track? Comment?
Design is not what I am talking about. I am talking about the feasibility study and a detailed project report. They have not done any feasibility study. The consultants are telling them how to create the cycle track design. Before they come to design, they should undertake actions, which includes feasibility study which will tell you whether cycle track is required in Pune and if yes, where. This is because, it is limited to the number of cyclists who will use it. You just don’t make cycle tracks across the city. Pune was a cycle city but not now.
If not cycle track, what should PMC do?
I think more than cycle tracks, what we need is footpaths, as all roads do not have footpaths in the city. The PMC should get its priorities right by first completing these projects throughout the city and then think of making cycle tracks that too only in those areas where the cycle tracks are required and where there are people commuting on cycles.
Why won’t cycle track work?
Cycle is an alternate means of transport but not for long distances as it is not practical. The type of vehicles people use these days is dependent upon their income level. If one can afford a car, you will use that; if you can’t then you opt for a two wheeler or even a cycle or a bus. People haven’t got this idea that use of cycle is good. It is a good thing to fight greenhouse gases. Since they can’t afford other means of transport, they go by cycle.
Where do you think the cycle tracks would work?
The areas which I think where cycle tracks will work are areas where there are educational institutes. Students could use cycles to travel within universities. In our days, we went to college for streams, but now you go wherever you get admission; there, you want less commuting time and these factors should be taken care by surveys and then accordingly use it to make cycle tracks. During our time, people use to cycle to work at Ammunition Factory Khadki, but now, the same factory uses a bus to pick up its employees. If we are trying to change those who use buses to work, I don’t think it will succeed. I think it will be mostly school and college students that would make use of cycles. You can’t make cycle tracks because you want to spend ₹300 crores, and make cycle tracks where no one will use.
