The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), working hard to revive the glorious days when Pune was known as the City of Cycles, was told some home truths by a bunch of school children about the problems cyclists face.

Pointing out the risks they brave on the city roads and how scared they are while pedalling their way to school and back, the children have written to Municipal Commissioner Praveensinh Pardeshi seeking road safety.

“We students like going to school on our cycles. Many of us do go to school and other places on cycles. But we do this at a great risk, as cycling is becoming riskier and more difficult by the day,” the letter states.

The students said that they have learnt in school that fuel is an exhaustive resource of energy that must be conserved. Therefore, cycling should be proactively encouraged by the city administration, they have suggested.

Agreeing whole-heartedly with the children, already on course of Pune’s revival was the City of Cycles, the municipal corporation has signed up with I-ce, a Netherlands-based non-governmental organisation.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Pardeshi said: “I would personally respond to students’ queries while initiating appropriate steps to address all the problems of safety concerns expressed by the students.” The civic administration will take all possible measures to ensure safety of the cyclist, he said.

Later in the day, he said he had responded to the students. “I entirely agree that the roads are not safe for cycling and that people in general give cyclists a secondary treatment. But we all commend your efforts of still going to school on cycles,” Pardeshi has stated in the letter.

As per the students’ suggestion, PMC is trying to build separate lanes for cyclists. This has already been done along the Canal Road and on Satara and Solapur roads, while footpath-cum-cycle lanes are being built at the University Road, he said.

“I know this is not enough as people misuse cycle lanes for car parking. To stop this, we have taken stringent action along the Solapur road by fining or towing away vehicles parked on cycle lanes. We also hope to make the crossings safer by painting junctions with special colours for cyclists,” Pardeshi said.

“Ultimately, your persistence in continuing the use of cycles and your parents’ concern for your safety will, 1I am sure, result in adults discouraging use of vehicle. We all hope, that one day Pune will become friendlier to cyclists,” he said.

URL: http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/now-cycling-schoolkids-ask-civic-body-for-better-roads/388057/